Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Aug. 31, 2007, edition 1 / Page 10
Part of The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
10 WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM FORUM I -> ' k\'- ^.>' -i.-'^'s Wf "-' •.■•',■»- mlSV-jv.', . '-a *fi.’‘i.'*i%v 'i Strategic Plan creates problems in the housing process Deena Zaru I Staff Writer The real reasons behind the problems with housing lie in Guilford's strategic plan, which plans for higher student en rollment, yet does not include a plan for building a new on- campus residence hall. Sending angry e-mails to the Campus Life office, accusing them of "screwing us over," is counter productive because they are not the ones who decide the content of the strategic plan. I do not write this piece in the interest of defending the Cam pus Life office or those who ap proved the strategic plan, but I do believe that it is in the best interest of the students to know how the process works so they can argue the parts they believe to be unfair effectively. In order to ease the hous ing crunch, building a new on- campus residence seems to be an obvious option, but accord ing to President Kent Chabo- tar, "Trustees have carefully considered the implications — financial and otherwise — to building new housing. The decision was made this June not to follow our new student apartments ... with additional new housing, but to seek more creative and cost-efficient mea sures." "lettioji ill too mony newnuileiitt is on overly simplilieil woy of II Aiyson Kienie Associate Dean for Campus Life The decision to utilize other options instead of investing in a new building was seconded by the strategic long range planning committee, which in cludes student representatives and the Senate president in the academic year 2006 - 2007 and "It was also vetted with com munity senate by Dean Fetrow," Chabotar said. It is doubtless that one of the major contributors to the unsat isfactory housing process is the fact that first-year enrollment is increasing, yet "'Letting in too many new students' is an overly simplified way of looking at the situation," said Aiyson Kienie, associate dean for campus life. "The admission office works hard to attract more applicants each year and they accept a cer tain number of students," said Kienie, "but they never know how many of those will make Guilford their final choice, and many students don't enroll even after confirming enrollment by the May deadline." Kienie also said that since many students do not inform the college once they decide to transfer or drop out, the sum mer is usually a time when housing is overcrowded. "In the summer we did send letters to about 60-70 students to let them know that they would not be able to live on campus until spaces open up," said Aaron Fetrow, dean for campus life, "but all of these students either did not turn in their applications online, and they also did not participate in the housing lottery, and since there are about 1057 beds and 1450 students, those who apply on time get first priority." Sophomore Dean Malelu is one of those students. "I'm usually very laid back and I don't mind where I live and I like meeting new people," said Malelu, "I just need to live on RBD bLOMQUIST I campus because it's more af fordable." Malelu went through his Quaker meeting to find somewhere to stay. For the first few weeks he will be staying in Guilford's head librarian Mary Ellen Chijioke's guest room un til a spot opens up on campus. Early this week, Malelu was informed that some spots have opened up on campus, yet final arrangements have not been not made. Students like Malelu should not have to resort to outside sources for help, which is why students need to be more in volved in the organization of the system. It would be more effective for students to become involved when these issues are being decided on, rather than getting an unpleasant e-mail informing them that they will be living in a triple. I urge stu dents to participate and ask more questions so that we can be a part of the decisions re garding the "creative and more cost-efficient measures" to bet ter housing in the future. "We had four open forums last year regarding housing and I think about 15-20 stu dents showed up" said Fetrow. "When we have these forums and give students opportunities to voice their concerns, please show up." Community Senate president's message to the student body Vital Akimana Community Senate President I have been told that there are divides at Guilford Col lege, and that students are without power. I have been told that the sense of commu nity and bridge-building is slowly diminishing. I have also been told that the greatest of resources at Guilford College, like the faculty and staff, are slowly being replaced or sim ply discontinued. While the space below is no where near enough for me to comment on my experience of Guilford College as it relates to the above issues, I can surely say with certainty that some of the greatest resources at Guil ford College are underutilized. When mentioning acronyms like CRRC, MRC, CAB, SOC, QUARC, and the Jud Board, I have noted a slight stare by the listener followed by a look of distress, for which I have im mediately apologized. Howev er, even the full names of these resources have yielded equal looks of perplexity from the listener as though I am speak ing KinyaRwanda. I can understand if the rea son for this lack of awareness is due to the obscurity in loca tions, and therefore problem atic building design. However, specifically talking about the Community Senate and the Student Organization Center, which are centers for the voice of the students, I cannot fath om a reason why this resource should be underutilized. If you have not already heard, you have a voice! If you have not already heard, you have a vote! But most importantly you have a community that can be bettered through you and you through it. You are among stu dents just like you who would love nothing more than to make sure that the voice of students is heard. Come join the Community Senate in the establishment of the voice of student leadership, speak your mind on issues of concerns, and help keep Guil ford College accountable to it core values. All students are welcome. Look for us on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in Boren Lounge or any time in Founders Jiall room 206.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 31, 2007, edition 1
10
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75