As the full story of Tuesday’s tragic events unfolds, the College administration faces questions of how to effectively deal with the many and varying needs of students, faculty and College employees. From a campus-wide convocation to casual meetings between students and counselors and extended hours for campus buildings, the College has already begun to answer the immense call for support.
Communication with students was foremost on the College’s list of priorities Tuesday as campus-wide e-mails were sent from President Nancy Dye’s office, in addition to information posted on Oberlin Online and on flyers around campus. During an emergency meeting of administrators on Tuesday, it was decided to use Residential Life and Services as a “call center” until 9 p.m., when incoming calls would then be routed to Dean of Students Peter Goldsmith’s office in Wilder, which was open and staffed throughout the night.
The Office of Admissions placed calls to first-year students from the New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. areas to inform them of counseling availability; e-mails were sent to those who couldn’t be reached by phone. However, there were no plans made for actual meetings among those students.
Dye voiced general concern for first-year students who, having been in Oberlin for under three weeks, have not had time or opportunity to develop the support networks crucial in the rocky aftermath of an event of this magnitude. Most students have never faced a tragedy of this sort, so even older students are seeking alternative support from counselors, professors or older community members that perhaps are not part of their typical support network. For this reason, many faculty and staff are spending their evening hours making themselves available for students in the numerous sites designated by the College as “campus gathering points”: Wilder Main, Mudd Library, North Hall’s Starlight Lounge the Conservatory lounge and other sites.
Perhaps the most significant decision affecting Oberlin as a learning institution was to continue classes as scheduled, decided Tuesday afternoon at a meeting of the General Faculty, Conservatory and College Councils. The Councils agreed that holding classes would provide a structure to the week that would aid in facilitating conversation among students and faculty.
The distinction was clear, however, between continuing classes and expecting “business as usual.” Goldsmith later announced at the gathering in Wilder that although classes would be held, it would be each student’s personal choice whether or not to attend.
Faced with a range of duties, College faculty and administrators took on the difficult task of working through their own emotions while simultaneously offering their help and comfort to students. For this reason, Director of the College Counseling Center Charles Ross led a staff and faculty meeting on Tuesday to discuss reactions and interactions with students in the days ahead.
Ross stressed that “human presence and human compassion” are most necessary at this time of extreme emotion. Students will experience “normal responses to abnormal circumstances,” Ross said, and it is incumbent upon staff to help them through this period.
Staff and faculty were understandably concerned about their role in the healing process. Ross emphasized that what students need is not professional assistance but a comforting presence. “I don’t need to go see a therapist today, but I sure could use a hug sometime,” he said.
The two issues raised most often by faculty and staff were the question of what to do with racist and other angry comments from students and when it would be appropriate to return to normal class schedules. The theater department’s Jane Armitage remarked that minority students had received a “body-blow” from events, and these ideas were seconded by religion professor Anna Gade, who targeted “Islamaphobia” in its many guises. While Ross had no specific answer, the room generally agreed that faculty should be sensitive to such outbursts and support the feelings of upset students while trying to protect the rights of those who might be offended.
On the subject of when to resume classes as usual, Counselor Harry Pepper reminded the group that “grief reactions are very individual.” Student timetables for dealing with grief, anger and fear will vary and teachers should remain sensitive. Some teachers expressed wishes to forge ahead while others thought it more important to gauge student feelings before proceeding.
Biology professor Richard Levin stressed that this was an opportunity to “be something to somebody,” and many others agreed. Many suggested separating class periods into two parts: discussion and coursework.
The staff also expressed their own feelings of fear and uncertainty and their wishes for support from each other. “We don’t know what the hell to expect,” Director of Residential Life and Services Kim LaFond said.
Ross echoed LaFond’s sentiments: “If I feel scared, you can imagine what an 18 to 25-year-old person” is going through.
Part of addressing these support needs will be the all-campus convocation, “A Gathering for Reflection: Words and Music,” today at 4:30 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Still in the works for the near future are forums or teach-ins which will be led by faculty members; details for these meetings will be passed on to community members via e-mail and on Oberlin Online as information becomes available.