Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) members are discussing a proposal to create a substance-free co-op at Oberlin in the near future. Old Barrows was mentioned as a candidate.
We asked students what they thought
of the idea:
Dan Spalding is a College senior.
At any college, there's the presence of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. For various reasons, students resent that presence: Coming from homes where substances were abused; being philosophically against substance use; and feeling unsafe around those who use substances, to name a few. Those feelings are invalidated by Oberlin when there is no deliberately substance-free dorm. But even if there was one, it would still be a dorm, and therefore overpriced and ugly. Making a substance-free co-op is an opportunity for OSCA to not just provide a place, but an affordable, democratically-run community for people with like philosophies to live together. And since substance-free students are not served by the College, it is OSCA's responsibility to try to make a space for them.
Karalee Poschman is a College sophomore.
I suppose if there are enough people interested, it's fine.
Sam Taylor is a College sophomore.
If someone wants to live in that kind of co-op, they'll live there. Unfortunately, a lot people wouldn't want to live in a substance-free co-op. There are so many druggies at Oberlin.
Ariel Goldstein is a college first-year.
I'm supportive of a substance-free co-op. But it shouldn't replace the all women's co-op. If they are going to do it, they should find another place for it other than the all women co-op.
Mitch Wyman is a college sophomore.
It'd be great if students that have the option open to them have a place to live. If they used Old B, they'd have to find a place for the people. If they start one they'd have to find a place for the people who live there to stay.
Jane Glynn is a college sophomore.
If people want a substance-free co-op, that's good. But it seems that everything that people are proposing for Oberlin now is trying to make it more like a big university. I seriously really don't think there's a demand for a substance-free co-op. And besides that, I love the fact that Old Barrows is an all women co-op.
