Forum with Cole-Newkirk fills lecture hall

by Hanna Miller

When the signs for a forum with Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk first started appearing, many people weren't sure where they'd come from. Despite the confusion, most people knew where to go.

Over 100 students, faculty, administrators and staff crowded into King 106 yesterday afternoon to participate in an open forum with Cole-Newkirk. The forum was intended to address issues relating to the department of student life and services. According to senior Jamie Trnka, who served as moderator, the event was organized by a number of concerned students.

Students accounted for the majority of the standing-room only crowd. The group was rounded out by faculty and members of the Department of Student Life and Services, including Associate Dean of Student Life and Services Bill Stackman, Associate Dean of Student Life and Services Ken Holmes, Director of Campus Safety and Security Keith James, Director of Counseling Charlie Ross and the Multicultural Resource Center interns.

President of the College Nancy Dye took a seat near the back of the lecture hall. Dye had been asked to participate in the forum, but she declined the invitation, citing a previous engagement.

"I was pleased by the number of students that were able to attend," Trnka said. "It was unfortunate the only date Dean Cole was available for the forum was Rosh Hashanah."

Although the forum opened with questions relating to the firing of former Director of Residential Life Deb McNish, the discussion quickly steered towards issues of diversity and community. According to the format of the forum, participants were allowed to stand and ask one question of Cole-Newkirk. Questioners were permitted to ask one follow-up question.

Questions about McNish's departure were left largely unanswered as Cole-Newkirk was unable to speak about personnel issues.

In response to a question from Residential Coordinator senior Carolina Penalva-Arana regarding the relationship between the firing of McNish and the goals of the department, Cole-Newkirk said, "Personnel issues are confidential. We can't talk about them. I deal with them everyday, but I can't talk about them unless I have the employee's permission."

Senior Jessica Barker asked Cole-Newkirk to explain why Assistant Dean of Students Yeworkwha Belachew ("YB"), currently on medical leave, was not offered the position vacated by McNish. McNish was replaced by Assistant Dean of Residential Life and Services Barbara Mehwald.

"The position requires a Masters degree," Cole-Newkirk said. "Barb was the next logical person."

"I have the qualifications right in front of me, and it says Masters degree or significant work experience," Barker said. "YB had 19 years of experience. I can't reconcile this paper with what I saw happen."

Cole-Newkirk said her decision was made after YB had taken her leave, a statement that generated some dissent.

"YB did not take her leave until after the decision was made," said senior Kirti Barnawal. "I'm sorry I'm getting emotional but I'm very frustrated."

Senior Becky Wolfinger raised questions about at-will employment for a number of administrators, who are afforded no formal job security. "What does that mean for the college?" she said. "What do you have to say about a climate of fear?"

"If I create a climate of fear, we can't effectively do our job," Cole-Newkirk said. "I think my reputation has been solving problems and dealing with people with great humanity."

Cole-Newkirk's office provided forum attendees with a list of a few of Cole-Newkirk's more notable accomplishments during her tenure at Oberlin. (see box) Members of Abusua marched in to the meeting carrying posters with similar information.

"I've tried to make the office more accessible," Cole-Newkirk said. "I don't envision that my predecessor would have stood in front of students like this. People have said this has got to be tough, but it comes with the territory. I do this because I love students, because this is my alma mater. I care about this place."

"I'm curious about you mentioning your responsibility to students last," said senior Blair Heiserman. "You've taken many actions that seem to overlook student interests and concerns."

Heiserman's question drew shouts calling for examples from a number of students.

"My job is not to micromanage," Cole-Newkirk said. "My job is to listen to what students are saying."

"I think a lot of what is happening here is students not taking responsibility for their actions," said senior Kiese Laymon. "Grassroots activism doesn't start with the administration. Quit looking at this woman right here. She makes mistakes no doubt, but it doesn't take an activist to shoot bullets at an administrator. This all started when Dean Cole didn't want a bunch of white boys smoking dope in their room. Dean Cole, why do you think you are the focus of so much attention on this campus?"

Laymon's comments met with enthusiastic applause from many members of the audience.

"This is the first time I've ever encountered anything like this in my life," Cole-Newkirk said. "I've never seen it before. I think every institute needs a scapegoat and I'm it. I wouldn't have put it the way Kiese did, but I made a simple statement that Oberlin needs to come to terms with the fact that drugs are illegal."

Some students remarked that the forum seemed to be tinged with racial tensions.

"It's strange how the dynamics of this room are. It's obvious there are certain divisions," said senior Claudia VonVocano "If we had a forum that had positive elements, it would be wonderful."

Cole-Newkirk committed to arranging another forum for discussion of community relations. "I think that's a great idea," she said.

"For a long time what has been happening is the black community against the queer community against the Asian American community against the Latino community," said senior Nikka Pierce. "We need to address frictions. I want to know how many times you've met with other student groups besides Abusua?"

"I've offered to come talk to any student groups or residential councils," Cole-Newkirk said. "We're going to do more."

Students also expressed concerns regarding the upkeep and the safety of program houses.

"Important concerns were raised at the forum," Trnka said, "Personally, I was dissatisfied with how concerns were addressed by the administrators present."

The following list of accomplishments of the Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk was excerpted from a list distributed at the forum.

Proposed a new model and supervised the reorganization of the Multicultural Affairs office into the Multicultural Affairs Center in Wilder.
Participated in the hiring of two Assistant Deans and assigned them to work in the Multicultural Resource Center.
More than doubled the funding to the Multicultural Resource Center to support programs by student associations and propose new programs that celebrate the rich diversity of the community and educate the members of our community about diverse cultures.
Asked the staff to arrange to begin painting Residence Halls both inside and out, especially on South Campus.
Provided the vision that restructured New Student Orientation. Upperclass people had more of a stake in orienting new members than they had before and new students had the opportunity to meet others outside of their living areas. The orientation program led to less anxiety in new students during the registration process.
Supported various student associational activities, such as the Biennial Asian and Pacific Islanders Conference, SOBIE's Fair, the Black Alumni Reunion, The Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alumni Reunion and Conference, The Circus two years ago, various lecturers, concerts and programs.
Provided leadership, funding and vision for the creation of a campus shuttle bus system.
Created more outreach by Safety and Security officers and initiated more training of officers, particularly about the diversity of our community.
Argued for and received sufficient funding to renovate the first and second floors of Wilder Hall. This funding was used to paint the interior, renovate the bathrooms on the first floor, purchase new interior furniture to make the lobby and the second floor more inviting as hang out spaces for students, purchase new porch furniture, including rockers and Adirondack chairs.
Initiated biweekly Division-wide staff meetings, (where none had been held before my tenure as Dean), in order to improve communication among staff and develop a shared vision for our work.
Encouraged more group therapy work in the Counseling Center and outreach from the office. Also encouraged and supported additional training for the psychologists on various topics, including how to work with students who sexual identity issues.
Made an appeal to Black alumni to replenish the Langston Student Emergency Fund, resulting in double the giving to the fund this year over last year.
Updated the computer equipment in Afrikan Heritage House after the Computing Center had planned to eliminate the computer room in the building.
Substantially supported bringing the largest display ever of the AIDS Quilt in Ohio to Oberlin.
Proposed to the President the creation of two task forces, one to study substance use and abuse at Oberlin, and another to review the rules and regulations governing student behavior at Oberlin.
Proposed a Leadership Reception last year that recognized the contributions of over 600 student leaders at the end of last year.
Initiated a review by the community of our Student Health Services.
Initiated a review of our meal plan option by Campus Dining Services and Residential Life and initiated a survey to find out what students want in a meal plan.
Eliminate cover charge at the 'Sco.

Related Stories:

Hagge's resignation stems from conflicts with Cole
- September 26, 1997
Cole-Newkirk renovates home
- September 26, 1997

Back // News Contents \\ Next

T H E O B E R L I N R E V I E W