Forum on OSCA raises questions

Drug policies, meal plans and future of OSCA all addressed

Students questioned enforcement of the drug policy on campus, as well as issues concerning the Oberlin Student Co-op Association (OSCA), at Harkness Tuesday evening with President Nancy Dye, Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Carol Lasser and Dean of the Conservatory Karen Wolff.

The open forum was organized by Co-op Area Coordinator Kirsten Bohl and the loose-ends coordinators (LECs) of Harkness.

Bohl asked the four administrators earlier this year to meet with the co-ops this spring. The LECs agreed to the event and the forum was arranged a month in advance.

Although the forum was organized to feature discussion of OSCA concerns, the entire student body was invited to the meeting. The majority of students present at the meeting were members of OSCA and the two- hour forum was structured similar to a house meeting at Harkness. Stack was taken and the administrators answered individual questions throughout the meeting.

The drug policy and its current and future enforcement by administrators, resident coordinators (RCs) and LECs were the main concerns addressed at the meeting. The recent eviction of Matthew Holford, a college junior, from South Hall has led many students to believe that the College administration is heightening its drug and alcohol enforcement on-campus.

Cole said, "The rules have always existed. The rules are being enforced the same as last year. We need to take a look at all Oberlin policies."

The long-range planning committee of OSCA is presently looking at creating a drug and alcohol policy for OSCA. OSCA President Timothy Dempsey, a college senior, asked what advice Cole had to offer to the long range planning committee, since he is chair of the committee. Cole said, "If you suspect abuse of drugs and alcohol, confront [the students]. Use the established rules to deal with the problem. [The use of drugs] is illegal. You need to establish a process that can deal with it. Drug abuse needs to be confronted by the student staff."

Cole stressed that the policies have not changed, but students may be perceiving that the rules are changing because "the personalities have changed."

Cole remarked that there are numerous policies concerning drugs and alcohol. "As an institution, we need to look at policies, if they are in line, in compliance with the law...that's all I'm suggesting."

A student later asked, "What does `take a look at the drug policy' mean? What is this `look' going to find?" Cole responded, "It doesn't imply something is wrong. It is the role of the dean to look at policies on a regular basis."

Another student raised the issue of RCs who engage in drug use. He told the administrators and students present at the meeting how his first drug experience was with an RC. Cole responded, "I hope [RCs] are not being hypocritical. I would hope that people who work in this institution uphold the broad principles."

Cole was then asked to define "abuse." She then defined drug abuse as the possession of drugs and drug paraphanalia. Cole said that she does see the difference between the terms abuse and use. She said the task force will examine the terminology.

Dye also addressed the issue of drug abuse and enforcement of the drug policy. She said, "Nobody wants Oberlin to take the role as the policeman. Other people will do it for us if we don't. These are real concerns, real issues."

Dye stressed, "We do live in a residential community." She said that the quality of individual life on campus is important and making everyone in a community comfortable is essential.

Cole assured students, "We're not walking through the halls and sniffing the air. ...We won't follow you around to make sure you don't use mushrooms."

Holford asked Dye and Cole about the disciplinary action that was taken concerning his eviction. He accused the College of lack of due process and refusal to read student appeals. Cole said that she disagreed with his interpretation of the incident because she is a civil libertarian, dean and lawyer.

OSCA concerns were also addressed at the meeting. Dye said, in response to a question concerning the future of OSCA, "I want OSCA to be able to grow and develop in proportion to student interest. OSCA is a remarkably strong part of the institution."

Dempsey questioned the option being considered by Residential Life, as part of budget downsizing, to combine the full time co-op position with the full time program house position. According to Bohl, the current assumption is that the residential life coordinator staff for next year will be cut from eight full time and four part-time positions down to four full time and two half-time positions. There is presently one full time co-op position.

Dempsey asked whether the College was willing to hire a co-op halftime position for next year. Cole said she would be willing to speak in detail about these issues later with Dempsey and Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life Deborah McNish.

A student questioned the Campus Dining Services 21 meals per week program and asked why Oberlin has not followed other colleges in establishing a point system where students have the opportunity to eat a variety of foods. For example, one student could eat at the Feve for one meal and Subway for another. Cole, in response, said, "We have a commitment to Stevenson as a building. It's going to be a while until it's paid off."

The proposal for co-ed rooms in residential halls was also discussed at the meeting. Daniel Spalding, a college first-year, felt that because Oberlin was seen as a progressive school, it should establish co-ed rooms. "It is a good environment to try it out. It is a healthy thing to do," Spalding said.

Dye said, "I have a hard time seeing it as progressive."

A student quickly responded to Dye's comment, "It gives people more freedom. Allowing them to [live in co-ed rooms] is progressive."

Cole said, about the issue, "I would like to see talking in the community."

The last question asked was "How do you see Oberlin?" directed to any of the administrators present. Cole replied, "Giving students more say in the quality of life is the commitment of Oberlin. … I don't think it as progressive as it could be."

Lasser, however, said, "We actually believe in the power of ideas - that's why it's progressive." Lasser said that she thought the meeting was well run. "I'm really impressed."

Bohl said about the meeting, "I was glad that administrators and students could meet together and discuss issues of current concern to the students."

Adrian Aveni-Deforge, a college junior and Housing LEC in Harkness, said, "I think that it was a good forum for ideas being expressed." After talking to students following the meeting, he said that "a lot of people felt more of a connection with the administration and they realized that there was an ear listening to their concerns."

Concerning the drug policy, Aveni-Deforge said, "I don't have complete faith that Charlene Cole trusts our (OSCA) methods in dealing with issues on a community level." He believes that the judicial process is only a slap on the wrist.

He said, "OSCA's focus isn't trying to get someone busted. People are dealt with on a more organic level." Aveni-Deforge explained that if students are having a problem with drugs or alcohol, the OSCA community first deals with the problem through discussions. "Pressing judicial procedures is not in the spirit of how OSCA deals with problems," said Aveni-Deforge.

He also said, "I would like to see [administrators] really address issues rather than talking around the issues." Aveni-Deforge said, however, that he felt that administrators showed that they did care about OSCA. "It was a step in the right direction."

Looking on: Associate Dean Carol Lasser at the OSCA forum held in Harkness on Tuesday. (photo by Tanner Mullen)

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