The buzz around Dean Cole-Newkirk

The bits and pieces of news stories and rumors that have circulated about Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk could create an image of her as an authoritarian and ruthless administrator. The pages of the Review include stories that concern the actions and issues surrounding administrators, faculty, staff and, most importantly, students. But the role of a newspaper is to report the news as accurately and efficiently as possible. Newspapers can't thoroughly explain humans. We can tell you what humans do, not what they are. That is left up to the reader.

From the controversies surrounding Cole-Newkirk's involvement with last year's drug policy issues and the associate dean search to this year's allegations that she is filling Oberlin College positions with her friends, the Review has consistently reported these stories. We must realize that amidst the news surrounding Cole-Newkirk, we, as members of the community, need to look at these issues in a broader context and interpret the news reported in a constructive and insightful manner. It is the Review's responsibility to report the news. It is largely the responsibility of the reader to decide how much the allegations of expensive silverware purchases and poor personnel decisions really matter. In the end, most students will not eat off Cole-Newkirk's gold-plated china. The important thing for students is whether Cole-Newkirk is responsive to their needs. Some of the allegations are worth ignoring. The problem is that some of the allegations concerning Cole-Newkirk suggest she has some definite weaknesses that are worth examining.

Encouraging an employee to evaluate your friend or relative as a job candidate is inappropriate. Cole-Newkirk's friends might be very highly qualified candidates. However, her demonstrated preference to work with people she knows suggests Cole-Newkirk does not possess the flexibility needed for her position.

At the same time we question the actions of Cole-Newkirk, we should simultaneously question the powers allocated to the position itself. What is the proper role of a dean? We should take the time to ask these questions before we point our fingers at Cole-Newkirk as an individual. The buzz around campus is that Cole-Newkirk is overstepping her position as dean of student life and services. Is Cole-Newkirk really the deceptive administrator many of the vocal members of our community have framed her to be? Or is this utter dissatisfaction with her actions an indication that there is a structural problem with the position itself? The previous dean of Student Life and Services didn't take a more active role in his position. He stayed still and collected a check.

Whether or not Cole-Newkirk is guilty as charged is one question that remains to be answered. But just suppose she is the witch we've been told she is. Can we really believe as some would have us believe that other administrators are so crystal clear? How much are other administrators' homes worth? Do they have expensive decks? What about their towels and toilet paper? Have other administrators ever used their clout to get a friend or family member a foot in the door? Have they ever mistreated others in the Oberlin College community? Have they lied to students? What foreign countries do other administrators frequent? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then only two questions remain: Why is Cole-Newkirk perpetually the only administrative specimen under the microscope and how long shall she remain there?