Though members of the Board of Trustees discussed co-ed housing at its June meeting, no decision to reconfigure an existing dorm into co-ed suites was made.
Last year, after a Student Senate proposal allowing roommates of opposite gender to live together in divided doubles and quads passed the Student Life Committee (SLC), Charlene Cole-Newkirk drafted an alternate proposal. Her proposal called for a reconfiguration of Noah or South Hall into suites. Reconfiguration of other dorms would follow and take place on a dorm-to-dorm basis.
According to President Nancy Dye, the trustees were generally "in favor of modifying and upgrading" on-campus residence halls. Dye said the Board of Trustees "would not, appropriately, take any action on the matter given where it is."
Cole-Newkirk said she hopes renovation will be possible next year.
A fire in Baldwin Cottage on July 20 caused approximately $25,000 worth of damage. According to Gene Matthews, director of facilities maintenance, the cause of the fire is still undetermined. He said that a number of possibilities exist.
At the time, the building was being used by a summer conference group that was forced to relocate to Harkness House.
The fire burned the eaves between the new annex of the building and the old portion. It damaged primarily the exterior, but also the roof structure and some interior of a small corridor, Matthews said.
There was also water damage from the fire department fire hoses.
Matthews said that the fire also damaged some data wiring and wiring from the fire alarm system.
"We spent ten years installing an automated fire alarm system and here's an example of why it is a good system," Matthews said.
He said that if Baldwin had not been equipped with an automated fire alarm system, much more damage would have been sustained.
Repairs have been made, and according to Matthews were finished last week.
Oberlin recieved highest honors in the August issue of Ohio Magazine. The magazine bestowed the Summa Cum Laude award for best college town upon Oberlin.
The relationship between town and college was cited as especially impressive. The article refered to the college's support of local civic projects and the town's hospitality towards students.
Oxford, Ohio, home to Miami University and Athens, Ohio, where Ohio University is located, were selected as Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude recipients.
This semester, Associate Dean of Academic Conservatory Affairs and Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy Kathryn Stuart is holding the position of acting dean of the Conservatory while Karen Wolff is on sabbatical.
According to Stuart, the beginning of the year has gone smoothly in the Conservatory. She said that it is an exciting time to meet student, parents, and faculty members. She added that it is a time to renew relationships with the professors of the conservatory.
Wolff will return as Dean of the Conservatory on February 1. She will be leaving next week for a trip to Italy.
Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 125, Number 1; September 6, 1996
Contact Review webmaster with suggestions or comments at ocreview@www.oberlin.edu.
Contact Review editorial staff at oreview@oberlin.edu.