Editorial
By DAVID JOHNSON
The new dorm life policy developed
by the Task Force on Student Life is
official now, and already many
students are downplaying its
significance and predicting no change
in the status quo.
“It just won’t happen,” is the phrase
heard most often from residents of the
“louder” dorms regarding the attempt
to get students to keep the noise level
down on weeknights so their neighbors
can study in their rooms. The option to
change the “quiet hours” policy by
unanimous suite vote is anticipated to
be exercised with vigor, and peer
pressure is expected to negate suite
leader and dorm council attempts at
enforcement, if indeed any attempts
are made.
Student leaders have pointed out
that students who prefer a more sedate
environment will seek out quieter
suites and dorms to move to, as more
raucus types will also congregate.
Some resident directors and
assistants candidly point admit out
that “policy” for the most part is just
words on paper, often irrelevant to the
reality of running a dorm.
The conservative trend in lifestyle,
academic orientation and job market
concern for students in college now like
ly play the major role in any dorm life
changes that do take place this year.
But problems exist for some
students, and concern about vandalism
and other problems is not limited to the
administration and the Student Life
Committee.
The Task Force policy guidelines
seem to be a positive method of ad
dressing these concerns, and few
students would ague that freshman
dorms are preferable. The policy in
dicates the Student Life office is sin
cerely seeking student input and
participation in solving residence hall
problems. The hall is in the student
body’s court and any substantive
changes this year will be by the
students themselves.
The consequences of apathy towards
the new policy have been spelled out.
Any program aimed at improving the
already high academic focus of the
school deserves at least consideration
and discussion, if not a chance. Policy
that promotes student involvement in
the affairs is far more desirable than
policy that takes responsibility away.
And the consequences of non in
volvement on this one are freshmen
dorms next year.
POLIS
Dorm living
Adhering to the old truism that
“birds of a feather flock together,” St.
Andrews students have once again
taken up the task of finding a niche
within the college community in which
to nest during the months ahead. Each
student will seek residence in a dorm
that best suits his social and academic
lifestyles, a dorm with a personality
much like his own.
The personality of a dorm seems to
vary with the type of persons that live
in it. Stereotyping seems unavoidable
when discussing dormitory life, since
the previously stated folws’ law seems
to apply whenever people find them
selves grouped into an unusually large
flock.
The tendancy is to ally oneself with
the familiar. It seems logical then that
people with similar lifestyles would
congregate in one place; thus, en
dowing that place with a certain
personaUty.
Granville, for instance, has
previously been noted for its affiliation
with the beat generation, i.e., its
fondness for rock-and-roll, smoky
rooms and elevated spirits. The dorm
is turning co-ed this year though, and
is sure to show the influence of
womankind.
The residents of Granville’s sister
dorm have traditionally been known as
the wild women of Wilmington. They
have been, in short, Granville’s female
counterparts. The signs say, that too is
changing however, as the Resident
Director may well confirm.
Tradition is the name of the game in
Concord. The clean-cut, all-American
Concord girls have been considered the
most conservative group on campus.
Albemarle and Orange are both co
ed. They may be likened unto the
myriad of condominium complexes in
by granville m keys
As many of you are
“quiet-hours” are being insUtuted this
fall. When I first heard of this news my
initial impression was that wh^ver
happens, one thing is certain: There
will be strong feelings among the
students when word gets around.
I have not been directiy involved in
the writing or researching of the news
article covering this story but as a staff
member I have been partly aware of
what went on. As LANCE reporters
interviewed administrative and student
leaders one thing I noticed was that no
one seemed willing to acknowledge tte
reality that these new rules may not be
universaUy popular. Enforcement may
not be easy.
Saint Andy’s has long has long had a
name or image as a party school. While
not necessarily a drawback, heavy
party activity on a camps level does
carry the risks of alcoholism, academic
failure, and many assorted personal
nightmares. If.someone thinks that
Andy’s party life is out of hand, the issu
should be given serious and careful
attention.
Are quiet hours a good idea? Frankly
I don’t know. My personal lifestyle
won’t be affected but I know that plenty
of people have a different style.
Thus, I view the new guidelines with
caution and anxiety. If not enforced
fairly, they bring more harm than good.
If the rules are not a success, we can
possibly expect freshman dorms. That
proposal met with little enthusiasm
from most students last spring.
The thing to avoid is screaming at
the Administration for making a new
rule on the books. Think carefully and
objectively about this situation. If you
don’t like the rules or their enforcement
talk to others. If they agree with you,
organize and do something. This
student body should be able to take care
of itself without stuent life holding our
hands. But the reality is that our hands
will be grabbed anyway if we don’t
think and act carefully.
“I APPLIED MYSELF AND GOT
FEDERAL STUDY MONEY.”
— Robin Clark
Florida that advertise 24-hour tennis,
raquetball and sunbathing.
Mecklenburg has been known as the
home of the hermits and possible
pyromaniacs-St. Andrews’ Animal
House. And finally, Winston-Salem has
been tagged the jock dorm due to the
athletic prowess of its residents.
The character of every dorm can be
expected to alter this year due to a
trend toward conservatism among the
student body. This trend is reflected in
renewed efforts by the Student Life
Office to better enforce existing
regulations and its implementation of
new ones.
Robert Claytyor, Dean of Students,
pointed out, “Students are becoming
more serious about the academic
program.” He explained that, as an
education institution, St. Andrews’
primary emphasis is on academics,
and therefore, “The dorms should
provide an atmostphere conducive to
study as well as a healthy social life.”
Dr. A.P. Perkinson, Jr., President of
the College, reinforced Claytor’s
comments, “Interest in academics is
much more serious today.” He con
tinued, “The whole country seems to
be going through a conservative swing.
The trend is conservative in the sense
that there is not an outreach to
establish a new set of social values, as
there was in the sixties. But, there is a
concern with individual freedom and
an individualized curriculum.
Perkinson stressed, “The job of the
college is to help people prepare
themselves to exercise their freedom
for things as distinguished from their
freedom from things. . .to see that the
circumstances here enable the student
to develop individual potential.” He
noted that residential Ufe should
reflect the purpose of the college even
at the cost of limiting students’
“freedom from things.”
“My parents help pay my college tuition, and I also work part-time. But
last year I realized I might not have enough money to continue my education.
“Then 1 found out about the Middle Income Student Assistance Act.
It provides more aid than ever before for education after high school.
“I applied and found out that I was eligible for a Basic Educational Oppor
tunity Grant (BEOG). You should also apply to see if you qualify for BEOG
or one of the other programs available to almost all
students enrolled in colleges or technical schools.
“If you’d like to get more education and
need study money, do what I did. Write to
Box 84, Washington, D.C. 20044 and ask
for a free booklet. It’s called “A Student
Consumer’s Guide to Six Federal Finan
cial Aid Programs!’ Then get in touch
with the counselor or financial aid admin
istrator in the school of your choice for
help in applying. (And be sure to com
plete the forms carefully so you will be
eligible for the help you need!)
“Remember: If you want education
after high school and need financial
assistance to get it, “IT’S TIME TO
APPLY YOURSELF.”
rtw-fp^
United States
Office of Education
THE LANCE
Lisa Moller Editor
Jon Johnson Associate Editor
Ann Caimi News Editor
Jerry Hudgins Features Editor
Jennie Solt Features E^tor
Jeff Keys Photo Coordinator
David Johnson Layout Supervisor
Craig Smith Technical Advisor
The opinions expressed in The Lance are not necessarily
those of the college. All unsigned articles do not necessarily
represent the opinion of the Lance staff.