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Sometimes even a good leftist like me looses patience with people and I reminded of all the very good reasons why PCU was filmed at Wes. Thought this would provide some entertainment for people here...
RA selection process for 200 Church criticized
by Mark Radosevich
Production Manager
A community meeting in Woodhead Lounge on Sunday afternoon that was convened to discuss the future of 200 Church St., formerly Chi Psi, focused instead on criticism of the selection of the house’s residential advisors (RAs). Dean of the College Freddye Hill called the meeting along with a student group that has been pressing the administration for several changes relating to the experience of students of color at the University, including the creation of an Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Most of the thirty students in attendance supported the suggestion that the selection process for the house’s RAs be reopened. Hill replied that it was both too late to reopen the process and unfair to the RAs who are already under contract. There are two RAs currently assigned to 200 Church St. and a third will be hired, Hill said.
There was little question that the central issue was the race of the RAs.
“As a white person, I do not want white RAs there,” said Micah West ’05, adding “I will protest that to the very end.”
West was not alone. “I do not want white people there,” said Danielle Dixon ’05. Dixon added that she personally could be comfortable with having a white RA in a house designated as a safe space for students of color, but believed that other students of color would feel differently.
“I’m a little concerned over the claim over who should be there,” Hill said.
Some argued that white RAs could not understand the situations faced by first year students of color, to which Hill said, “I haven’t heard anyone that I’ve talked to claim expertise.”
The participants of the meeting also could not agree on the purpose of the house. Hill suggested that the housing could be “a place where students would confront issues” related to multiculturalism, adding that she feared that students in housing designated as a safe-space, which many of the students argued for, might feel “expected to support whatever position unfolds” on such issues.
Hill was unable to answer questions about the meeting before this issue went to press.
“I’m glad I came here to hear all this,” said Patrick Welsh ’05, one of the RAs assigned to 200 Church St. If a first year student of color wants “to live in a place where it’s all students of their color, I think they have that right,” he said. “I am not welcome.”
According to an email announcement of the meeting from Hill, “the purpose of the meeting is to discuss plans for developing programming in first-year residential areas next year and proposals to transform 200 Church Street into first-year-student housing in which first-year students, living together, will engage in discussions and programming around the multiplicities of identity, oppression, and privilege from the perspectives of students of color and other underrepresented students.” The proposals include the possibility of a new center to address concerns specific to students of color that may be housed within 200 Church St.
Several students criticized the handling of their concerns by administration, including the Office of Residential Life (ResLife).
“It is so unbelievably bogus that Jeff [Ederer, Director of Residential Life] is not here,” said Liz King ’03 after the meeting.
Ederer could not be reached for comment.
Although most of the students at the meeting have been coordinating their efforts for most of the discussions with the administration, the opinions were not expressed unanimously.
“I feel that every freshman should have one year of forced diversity,” said Justin Rogers ’05. “They can self-segregate for three years.”
“It’s not self-segregation,” replied Hetert-Qebu Walters ’05. “You said you were lucky to live in a diverse dorm…This isn’t a place where you shop for diverse cultures. Are we taking into account the feelings of the students of color on this campus? That’s priority number one.”
RA selection process for 200 Church criticized
by Mark Radosevich
Production Manager
A community meeting in Woodhead Lounge on Sunday afternoon that was convened to discuss the future of 200 Church St., formerly Chi Psi, focused instead on criticism of the selection of the house’s residential advisors (RAs). Dean of the College Freddye Hill called the meeting along with a student group that has been pressing the administration for several changes relating to the experience of students of color at the University, including the creation of an Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Most of the thirty students in attendance supported the suggestion that the selection process for the house’s RAs be reopened. Hill replied that it was both too late to reopen the process and unfair to the RAs who are already under contract. There are two RAs currently assigned to 200 Church St. and a third will be hired, Hill said.
There was little question that the central issue was the race of the RAs.
“As a white person, I do not want white RAs there,” said Micah West ’05, adding “I will protest that to the very end.”
West was not alone. “I do not want white people there,” said Danielle Dixon ’05. Dixon added that she personally could be comfortable with having a white RA in a house designated as a safe space for students of color, but believed that other students of color would feel differently.
“I’m a little concerned over the claim over who should be there,” Hill said.
Some argued that white RAs could not understand the situations faced by first year students of color, to which Hill said, “I haven’t heard anyone that I’ve talked to claim expertise.”
The participants of the meeting also could not agree on the purpose of the house. Hill suggested that the housing could be “a place where students would confront issues” related to multiculturalism, adding that she feared that students in housing designated as a safe-space, which many of the students argued for, might feel “expected to support whatever position unfolds” on such issues.
Hill was unable to answer questions about the meeting before this issue went to press.
“I’m glad I came here to hear all this,” said Patrick Welsh ’05, one of the RAs assigned to 200 Church St. If a first year student of color wants “to live in a place where it’s all students of their color, I think they have that right,” he said. “I am not welcome.”
According to an email announcement of the meeting from Hill, “the purpose of the meeting is to discuss plans for developing programming in first-year residential areas next year and proposals to transform 200 Church Street into first-year-student housing in which first-year students, living together, will engage in discussions and programming around the multiplicities of identity, oppression, and privilege from the perspectives of students of color and other underrepresented students.” The proposals include the possibility of a new center to address concerns specific to students of color that may be housed within 200 Church St.
Several students criticized the handling of their concerns by administration, including the Office of Residential Life (ResLife).
“It is so unbelievably bogus that Jeff [Ederer, Director of Residential Life] is not here,” said Liz King ’03 after the meeting.
Ederer could not be reached for comment.
Although most of the students at the meeting have been coordinating their efforts for most of the discussions with the administration, the opinions were not expressed unanimously.
“I feel that every freshman should have one year of forced diversity,” said Justin Rogers ’05. “They can self-segregate for three years.”
“It’s not self-segregation,” replied Hetert-Qebu Walters ’05. “You said you were lucky to live in a diverse dorm…This isn’t a place where you shop for diverse cultures. Are we taking into account the feelings of the students of color on this campus? That’s priority number one.”
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