FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1975
BENNETT COLLEGE, GREENSBORO, N. C.
VOL. XXXVIII, NO. 2
Director of Housing
Discusses Contracts
And Student Hold-out
by Joyce Bass
There are a lot of campus is
sues that students are voicing
their opinions about: the gates,
where our money is going and
now two dormitories are reject
ing the housing contracts that
have been issued by the Office of
Residence Life.
Mrs. Ouida Scarborough, Di
rector of Residence Life was asked
about her reaction to the dormi
tory hold-outs and the reasoning
behind the issuance of the con
tracts. She said, “I drew the hous
ing contracts up basically because
of the out-dated student hand
book. I felt that the students
needed to know what is expected
of them in the dormitories.”
She gave the following back
ground on the contracts; “The con
tracts were to have been sent to
the students prior to their ar
rival on campus. I drew up the
contracts, sent them to the presi
dent and deans for approval, after
which they were then sent to the
printers. It was later announced
that they would be delayed com
ing from the printers. So, that ex
plains why they were not sent to
the students this summer.” Mrs.
Scarborough continued, saying
that an additional letter was to
have accompanied the contracts
explaining them and giving the
reasons behind them. However,
she said, “I became ill during the
summer and I was absent when
the contracts arrived on campus.
It was also about the same time
that the students were returning
to campus. I was told that the
contracts were given to the dorm
directors with instructions telling
them to get their residents to sign
them. No other instructions or ex
planations were given.”
Mrs. Scarborough said that she
felt that the contract was an hon
est one: “I did not try to mislead
or trip the students up. We were
one of few schools that didn’t have
a housing contract.”
According to Mrs. Scarborough,
the “Residence Halls Regulations”
were set up not solely by the col
lege, but by the State Board of
Health and the Greensboro Fire
(Continued on page 4, Col. 1)
Bennett Says Sign-up or Get Out
Reynolds and Cone Hall Residents Hold Out on Housing Contracts
by Joyce Bass
The residents of Reynolds and Cone Halls have rejected the proposed
housing contracts that were issued to the dorms by the Office of Resi
dence Life which is also under the auspices of the Office of Student
Affairs.
What are some of the reasons behind the holdout? One sophomore,
early childhood education major from Charlotte, said, “The contracts
were a waste of time and money. If we set our minds on not doing some
thing, we’re not going to do it. What would Bennett do if 200 girls were
put off campus?”
There were a number of comments about regulations in the con
tract. “I don’t think they’re fair. The contract says that we must pay for
any damage done to our rooms, but no one really checks them thoroughly
before new residents enter the rooms, and a lot of us end up paying for
the damage someone else did,” said a sophomore from Greenville.
“Considering the conditions of some of the dorms we are living in,
we should be signing insurance contracts instead of housing contracts,”
said a junior interdisciplinary studies major from New Jersey. A junior
physical education major felt that the contracts were not necessary. She
continued by saying that she always felt the administration and the stu
dents of Bennett College had an understanding.
A number of students felt that the contracts weren’t clear enough.
“There is something written in the contracts about the assigned functions
and tasks of the residence directors and maintenance personnel. Well,
what are their functions? What do they have the authority to do?,” said
a junior special education major.
Freshmen Disappointed in Contracts
by Thomasina Stallings
Early in September the fresh
men in Barge, Jones, and Pfeiffer
Halls, like all students living in
the dormitories, were issued a set
of rules and regulations in the
form of a contract, which they
were expected to read and sign.
On the last page of the contract
in big, bold, black letters was the
statement: I HAVE READ, AND I
UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
OF THIS DOCUMENT. The fresh
men signed and returned the
contracts to the dormitory direc
tors as instructed, but many are
apparently having second
thoughts. The consensus seems to
be that they read, more than like
ly understood, and by signing
agreed to the terms but that they
do not agree with them.
Among students who now feel
that the signing was a mistake is
Cynthia Robinson of Washington,
D. C. She said she felt she was
definitely forced to sign: “It was
the type of thing where if you
don’t, the least little thing you do
would be grounds for eviction.”
Deborah Tillman, another stu
dent from Washington, D. C., feels
she would have no place to stay
on campus if she hadn’t signed.
However, she felt that “some of
the statements were sensible in
the contract but other were out
rageous.”
Another freshman from New
Haven, Connecticut, Beverly Ran
dolph of Barge Hall states, “I
thought the idea of a contract was
irrational. We paid our $75.00 to
live here so we obviously would
take care of our home.”
“I honestly don’t believe it
makes sense to have a contract,”
said Kathy Clark of Norwalk,
Conn, “We live here and we would
only be better equipped to do the
things ordinarily done at home.”
Connie Murray of Jones Hall
feels that she was forced to sign
the contract. Connie, who is from
Washington, D. C., states, “I think
it is a lot of baloney.”
From Jones Hall, Monica Brown
rebels against the housing con
tract. Monica, of Norfolk, Virginia,
said rules of Bennett College were
sent to her before she came here.
“1 automatically figured I had to
(Continued on page 3, Col. 5)
There were several students who felt that the contract issuance could
have been handled differently. “If we had gotten the contracts during the
summer, that would’ve fostered a more business-like air with us. After
reading the contracts, I can honestly say that I would have reacted the
very same way,” said a sophomore music major from Indiana. Another
sophomore business administration major said, “I can understand the
statement about the drugs and unauthorized guests, but the comments
regarding the hot plates and ironing in the rooms seem silly.” One other
student from Georgia said, “If we had gotten the contract during the
summer, we would’ve had more time to think about them and we would’ve
known what to leave at home. They went about it all wrong.”
There is now a lot of talk about eviction notices being sent to these
students. What’s the initial reaction? One sophomore student from Greens
boro put it this way, “If it comes to the point where I have to leave. I’ll
leave. 1 will finish my course of study and Bennett won’t see me again.”
Another student felt that the eviction notices would have little effect,
since they were to have been sent this summer; therefore, the eviction
date would’ve expired. One junior resident said, “Before they can evict
us, they will have to refund our key deposits, our dormitory fees and a
certain percentage of our tuition.” Another junior resident said, “If they
give me my plane ticket, and find me a place to stay until my plane ar
rives, then, I’ll go.”
One final statement given was this, “Eviction? I feel that it’s just a
rumor. Bennett would lose a lot of students and money, plus the fact that
the word would get around about the situation, and they would lose a lot
of their recruitments.”
Meal Ticket Use Surprises Students;
Most Would Prefer Use of I. D. Cards
by Lennet Hill
Students arrived on campus this
school year and discovered that
meal books were necessary to eat
in the dining hall.
Bennett has never had meal
books before, so this was a new
idea to everyone on campus.
A few students favored meal
books. They felt that they were an
improvement.
Representative of this point of
view was Judy Britt, a junior, who
said, “They help speed up the
line.”
Joy Person, a senior, said “I
think they are o.k. Last year some
people were bringing in friends to
eat who did not attend Bennett.
Meal books could eliminate this.”
Some other students said that
the meal books help minimize the
cutting.
However, most students felt that
they were unnecessary, inconven
ient, and a waste of time.
Mary Lewis, a junior said, “I
don’t like them because you might
leave them in the room and then
have to go back and get them. I
hope it is our last book.”
A general opinion was that Ben
nett does not have enough stu
dents to make meal books neces
sary.
A sophomore, Vivyette Outer,
said “I don’t see the purpose be
cause anyone could use your meal
book. Anyone could find a meal
book and use it because they don’t
check your I. D.”
Lucinda Brown, a freshman,
said “They don’t make any sense.”
The administrations point of
view, voiced by J. J. Scarlette,
business manager, was “The meal
book is not a purchase of meals,
but an authorization to eat in the
dining hall. They let the people
in the dining hall know that the
holder is authorized to eat.
“Meal books are an institutional
idea. At some colleges the students
elect whether or not to buy meal
books, but at Bennett everyone
living on campus is issued a meal
book because the college wants
everyone who is a resident stu
dent to be able to eat.”
Scarlette further stated, “It is
not possible to get a refund be
cause of meals missed. The meals
are not on a per meal basis. In the
(Continued on page 4, Col. 5)
Bennett Very Different From Home
New Fresiiman Student En]oys Freedom Of Bennett And Tiie Open Attitude Of Tlie Classroom
by Donna Meacham
Vajira DeSilva is having no
major difficulties in adjusting to
life here at Bennett, even though
it is quite different than in her
native Sri Lanka, a small island
off the coast of India.
Though she has only been here
for a short time, Vajira has come
to appreciate the many freedoms
afforded the students at Bennett.
She says, “There is a lot of com
munication between teachers and
students, and I think that is very
good. At home, a teacher comes
into a class and says what she has
planned to say, and the students
listen, and then, afterwards, they
may ask questions. Here a stu
dent discuss things and express
their opinions openly in class, and
I think that is a very good way
to learn.”
She also noted the diversity of
the educational programs avail
able at Bennett.
In her country, one’s vocation
is decided for you before the first
year of high school. “They chose
science for me,” she said. “It is
done according to the overall
marks you get and your score on
the final exam in grade eight.
When you come to grade nine, you
are placed in either arts or sci
ences, and you get an education
along those lines.”
When asked why she chose Ben
nett, she stated, “I am a member
of the Experiment in Internation
al Living, and I was notified that
Bennett was offering five scholar
ships to students like myself. I
was lucky enough to get one of
them.” She has declared chemistry
her major, and plans career in
either bio-chemistry or chemical
engineering.
(Continued on page 3, Col. 1)
Va{ira Gets An Assist From Classmate
Photo l)y Cheryl E. Johnson