Grant couldn't be a better gift

The recently formed student coalition, and all other students interested in issues of diversity, pluralism and multicultural relationships, indirectly received a $161,562 helping hand this week. The College was granted funds by the Hewlett Foundation to implement a program called "Common Ground: Education for Democracy."

With coalition building, multiculturalism and diversity firmly anchored in Oberlin's collective consciousness, the College community could not have received a more appropriate gift.

Money can't solve all our individual struggles with diversity and pluralism. Perhaps though, it can help create the needed apparatus to better deal with, and understand existing dilemmas.

Where will this grant be spent? Daniel Gardner, the director of the Center for Service and Learning, says that some money will go towards a new orientation program run by the MRC and the Center for Service and Learning. Other grant money will go towards faculty and staff training.

Of course, a new orientation program is needed and faculty/staff training can't hurt. But students must not be left out of the decision processes determining where this money will be spent.

Coalition building, diversity and multiculturalism are in Oberlin's collective consciousness due to student efforts, and particularly the efforts of the student coalition.

If the Common Ground grant is to reach its potential, student voice and student direction must be implemented.

Host families build unions at Oberlin

Most students are thrown into dorms and co-ops their first year at Oberlin. And suddenly, mom and dad can seem very far away. Even the most sophisticated college students sometimes pine for home cooking and a place to just kick back and watch TV.

The first year experience isn't easy. President of the College Nancy Dye recognized this when she discussed her idea of a first-year dean with Senate. Dye told Senate about her ideas to have a general resource person to help first-years figure out where to go and what to do.

However, students don't need just another administrator. Oberlin students are certainly capable of reading the regs book and figuring out who to complain to when they get a bad grade. First-year students need someone to offer them support like mom dishes out.

Some students find that support through Oberlin's Host Family Program. The program is an inspiring example of how the Oberlin community can create an environment where students and town residents can learn and share a unique, intrinsic relationship with one another. The success of this program should inspire the College to create and support other similar programs.

In recent years, Reverend Fred Steen, OC '55, has seen a decline in the number of students involved in the host family program. We could easily say that the decline is a poor reflection on students, but we're products of a different generation where close-knit families may not necessarily play into our lives like they did earlier.

While students are lobbying for greater administrative support, students may not be taking full advantage of the important networks the town has to offer. Busy administrators are not always the best sources of support for students. And they certainly shouldn't be the only ones.

In closing out townspeople and their wealth of experience, students are closing out a valuable resource. People who are involved with the Host Family Program, and other community outreach programs, should be commended. Both students and administrators can learn from them.

Editorials in this box are the responsibility of the editor-in-chief, managing editor and commentary editor, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the Review.

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