Desperate petitions circulated through Dascomb two weeks ago, asking people to vouch for the integral role played by the Afrikan Heritage House dining hall. Citing the recent reduction in dining hours as precedent for the feared closing of the HouseÕs cafeteria, the writers of the petition passionately demanded that Res. Life not close it. Administrators, however, were shocked to hear that they were closing the dining hall, a plan they denied emphatically.

A similar furor was emanating from the German majors on campus as they began an alumni letter-writing campaign. Both professors and students feared that the position held by retiring professor Sidney Rosenfeld would be allocated to another department. The abbreviated German department, they feel, would lead to the eventual death of the major, causing the college to lose funding from Max Kade Foundation. The administration has withheld comment, and seems to feel that the German proponents are being rather alarmist.

What do these two situations have in common? Why were these students out of the blocks and 20 yards down the track before the gun was even raised? Maybe it is because here at Oberlin we take activism and community seriously. Perhaps, but thatÕs a rose-colored way of saying it.

An alternative description is that these false starts illustrate a failure of the administration to win the trust of a large group of students. In the last month, two rumors alleging drastic administrative actions have circulated the campus and Ñ what is most distressing Ñ have been believed. Administrators who pride themselves on open dialogue with the campus community should take notice of this extreme display of mistrust. Over the last few years students have become sensitive to sudden and seemingly rash administrative action, due in part to watching administrators, coaches and programs leave the College without a proper explanation. Listen up, Cox: Just because students are no longer protesting and chanting in front of Mudd doesnÕt mean all is well.

At the same time these rumors reflect poorly on students as well. While it is commendable and imperative that students make their voice heard on campus, depending on rumor and innuendo to fuel our allegations of wrongdoing is another matter. We should be aware of administrative actions that we think are detrimental to our community, and we have a responsibility to let the powers that be know how we feel. But we need to check our facts and go to the source before we insist that the sky is falling. If the threat that we feel looming so largely about our heads is false, these alarmist yells may turn out to be so many people crying wolf. Be careful students: When our flocks are truly in danger, the villagers might not be listening anymore.

Wake up, Senate

In a perfect, or maybe even a semi-perfect world, Student Senate would act as a bridge between students and administration and we could live in harmony. They would propose actions for the good of the campus and see that they are enacted to everyoneÕs satisfaction. Here at Oberlin we have seen anything but. Thus far the 98-99 Oberlin Student Senate has lacked direction, cohesion and any semblance of purpose. There has been an overwhelming lack of communication between senators, the student body and virtually everyone else, which has curtailed their role as campus leaders.

Where did Student Senate go awry? Senators cannot even cooperate sufficiently to improve relations between members, let alone steer any decisions on policy. The group has seemed an impotent body for some time now; however the developments of the past few months have elevated their ineffectiveness to new heights.

Lack of communication has wrecked the spring election to replace the many resigning senators. The election was slated to conclude on Feb. 26, with the new senate beginning its duties this past week. However, a week later the election has received only one fifth the number of ballots needed to become official. Pretty pathetic considering they need less than 600 ballots cast to fill the seats. Whose fault is this? SenateÕsÐfor not publicizing the election, thatÕs who.

One resigning senator vowed to guide the election, publicizing, distributing ballots and flyers and canvassing in dining halls. Yet the students didnÕt even get ballots in their mailboxes till this last Wednesday, three days after the election was to conclude. Furthermore, candidates, with the exception of one or two, have done little campaigning or publicizing of their positions. This may be because there are fourteen candidates to fill ten seats and they donÕt think they need to expend too much effort in getting elected, but does this bode well for the incoming senate?

The pathetic performance by Student Senate this past year is inexcusable. Senate has the potential to be a powerful force within the community and campus; however this opportunity has been squandered. Resigning senator Sam Taylor summed up the bodyÕs effectiveness on campus best in saying, ÒSenate has no idea what the hell is going on.Ó Please be extra vigilant in the current election so we do not see a repeat performance of last semester.