To the Editor:
WHAT'S GOING ON????? This seems to be the most common phrase echoed through the halls of Wilder this week. Three essential Student Union staff positions have been eliminated under Dean Cole-Newkirk's administration, without any input from the student staff. Michele Gross, director of operations, Beth Livermore, departmental assistant, and Gail Johns, information desk manager, are integral parts of the Student Union and student life. The burden of their departures will fall on the already heavy workloads of Chris Baymiller, Tina Zwegat, Tom Reid, Kathleen Drennan, and Harold Stout.
Why are cuts being made that severely affect student life without any student input? Wilder is supposed to be the STUDENT union. It seems unfair and underhanded that important decisions concerning Wilder's staff were made without consulting students. These three departures will strongly affect the almost 70 students who are employed by Wilder as well as every student and student organization that uses the Union. None of us, not even the Wilder staff, were informed of these changes by Dean Cole-Newkirk's office before they were made. It is counter productive for the students and administration not to confer decisions such as this - decisions that will greatly affect the lives of all students.
First, Michele Gross has worked at the Student Union for seventeen years. She has worked incredibly hard, sometimes working at Wilder until 11:30 p.m. On weekends, she comes in to advise the Student Senate meetings. On weekdays, she advises the Yearbook. She is also advisor to the Forum Board, SFC [Student Finance Committee], and the Cat in the Cream. Every day, she oversees practically every aspect of Wilder Student Union from the information desk to facilities to student organizations. Michele Gross is instrumental in so many facets of student life. It is simply incomprehensible that she was asked to move to Daub House and take a position as "Director of Conference Services" that involves virtually no student contact.
The other two major changes in Wilder Hall involve Gail Johns and Beth Livermore. Their jobs were eliminated last week. Many of you probably recognize Gail, the Information Desk Manager, because she's at the Wilder desk every morning, cheerfully answering questions, faxing, and selling tickets. If you've ever gotten an ISID [International Student Indentificaiton] card or needed help with your student organization, you probably have met Beth, the Departmental Assistant, who is always smiling and resourceful, ready to solve problems. These people are INSTRUMENTAL in the every day running of Wilder Hall. Their absence will affect every student who uses Wilder next year. We are shocked that the administration would see fit to eliminate such necessary positions and dynamic people.
These cuts especially affect the morale of the Wilder student workers. Are we supposed to enjoy coming to work when a new staff member is eliminated each day? Are we supposed to trust Dean Cole-Newkirk's administration when so many decisions important to our daily existence are made without any consideration of our opinions? Some people have suggested that we should have been more vocal at the student/administration discussion earlier this semester. Our response is: we truly did not even think that such essential positions could possibly be eliminated!
As members of the Student Union staff, we, the undersigned, are both concerned and outraged by these cuts. Will Wilder have to eliminate services because of a shortage of staff? Will building hours and accessibility to student organizations be reduced?
The friendly, caring environment which Michele, Gail, and Beth helped to foster in Wilder has made working enjoyable. We want to thank them for their hard work. What will become of Wilder Hall without these three devoted people? What will become of Oberlin College if important decisions continue to be made without student input? We hope that in the future students will be consulted when issues directly concerning student life are made. We think that a forum should be scheduled to discuss possible alternatives.
Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 124, Number 24; May 10, 1996
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