Accreditation team examines College

The re-accreditation team has come and gone. After meeting with students, faculty, trustees and administrators, the team reccomended no stipulations, required reports or focused evaluations.

"It went well," College President Nancy Dye said. "The teams had very positive things to say."

According to an initial report issued by the five-member team charged with assessing Oberlin, the College has strong presidential leadership, outstanding information resources, disciplined financial management and a committed and energetic faculty.

The College was criticized for its cumbersome faculty governance system, an inadequate student union and uneven support of interdiscplinary programs.

"I think it's fair to say they were very enthusiastic with what they found at Oberlin," Dean of the College Clayton Koppes said. "It was clear that many members of the accreditation team have always thought of Oberlin as leader and still do."

The evaluation team representing the North Central Association of College and Schools (NCACS) was headed by George Drake, former president of Grinnell College. Colleges are evaluated for reaccreditation once every ten years.

A team representing the National Association of Schools in Music (NASM) directed an independent evaluation of the Conservatory. The leader of the NASM team was waylaid by the flu and was quickly replaced.

The NCACS team met with students Tuesday. Although most of the ten attendees were student senators, some students professed they had just wandered into the meeting.

"Even good colleges like Oberlin have to be reaccreditated," Drake said. "We're here to hear students."

Although the team members generally allowed students to steer the conversation, the team suggested some topics.

"We're really very interested in student life," Drake said. "Tell us about residence halls. It's the closest to ghetto living most of you will ever do."

The conversation quickly turned to individual identity.

"I think everyone has their own little passion," said first-year Amy Pandjaris.

Senior Joshua Kaye said, "It's not that you have to be in an organziation, but it does make a political and social statement if you're in the Christian Fellowship or the S&M/B&D club."

The team members appeared agahast.

"I'd love to read that charter," Betsey Sherman of Bennington College said.

"Ain't it kinky?" exclaimed Carol Stern of Northwestern University.

"You have to wade through a nebulous Oberlin landscape, but you will find there is identity," Kaye said.

"I'm realizing a lot of people just seem really introverted," first-year Emily Inglis said. "They're not into smiling at people. They're into what they're doing."

Students also discussed educational technology, ethnic studies, cultural diversity requirements and student governeance.