Dean decision perplexing, discouraging

To the Editors:

As I read through the Review last week, only one phrase raced through my mind, "how insignificant." Looking over 125 years worth of headlines, I couldn't help but realize how insignificant our presence thus far has been. We've had no great obstacle to overcome, we've rallied against no great oppressor, and we certainly haven't been dealt any great injustice by the administration - until now anyway.

At the end of a typically tiring workday, I take a few minutes to check my e-mail, listen to my phone messages, and hit the bed. Though this is usually the least stressful seven minutes of my day, tonight was quite the exception. "[Folder "INBOX" opened with 61 messages],"telnet announced. I assumed this was another string of useless senate emails proclaiming some random missed office hours, or some idiots on a mass list somewhere that haven't figured out why "reply to all" isn't the best idea. But no. I only wish it could have been so easy.

The third message in my box was the first to announce that Peter Goldsmith had been offered the position of Dean of Students. By the tenth, I knew that I really didn't have to read anymore. I got the point. I too am wondering how the hell that one happened.

For the last month or so, the debate on this campus surrounding the dean position hasn't been about which of the four will get it, but rather, will it be Bill or Deb? It just makes sense. Why bring someone in that has no experience with Oberlin, rather than letting someone who's proven that they belong in this community have a shot? I figured it was my obligation to give all candidates their moment, and as such, made it a point to hear three of the four talk. I'm not disappointed to have missed Chapman's, since apparently, he didn't even think himself to be so spectacular.

The first candidate blew me away. Yeah, it was our good buddy Pete. Props to Nicole Johnston, senior class president, for asking about his experience working with LGB students. Something to the effect of "well, someone in my family came out once." Or maybe that's just the way I heard it. Either way, that was when I stopped listening. Someone in my family came out once too: me. But I'll be damned if that's any sort of experience in dealing with a community. I've been in and out of the Oberlin LGB community for almost a year and still have no idea which end is up. I didn't find him to be very eloquent, and in all honesty, dismissed him largely because I didn't see him as being the type of administrator I would be comfortable approaching.

As for Deb McNish, though she attracted the endorsement of several organizations on this campus, to my knowledge, she received an offer to move on to Earlham, and withdrew her candidacy.

So now it's down to Bill and Pete. Seems like an even MORE obvious race to me. As a pretty active student on this campus, I've seen Bill serve a variety of roles. Among the most important being that of a friend. He's one of the most sincere faculty members on this campus. Having worked with him as a professor and an administrator, I have consistently been impressed by the rapport he has with students. At times, I've felt that he was more concerned with my general well-being than even I was. He is honestly one of the few assets that make Oberlin bearable for me. Long after other administrators have forgotten that retention's still an issue, that students already have enough to worry about, and that sometimes it's nice to get a straight answer about campus policy, Bill's there with a smile and a "how are you doing?"

Six years ago, in the hole I grew up in (aka St. Mary's County, Maryland), our Board of Education voted in closed session to transfer a Supervisor of Instruction that had devoted years to building relationships with students. I remember standing in a crowded auditorium with hundreds of other students, some in tears, as our county Superintendent repeated, "nothing can be done, the decision's been finalized." I can , without hesitation, tell you that it adversely affected the rest of my high school experience. Well, six years ago, I was on the verge of becoming a high school freshman, and knew I had to deal with it. Six years later, and for $120,000 worth of four fun-filled years at Oberlin, I'll be damned if I'm going to deal. And I hope that no one else does either.

Is this really the "student's Dean" that they've been bragging about all semester? It doesn't look so much like it. I'm trying really hard to find the shuddering numbers of students on this campus that are screaming for Pete "Knew a Gay Once" Goldsmith. Bill Stackman has made a significant contribution to this college, and its community. Is this typically how the administration shows its appreciation? Thanks, but no thanks.

-Chris Anton, College first-year, Student Senator

Wrong candidate picked, students should speak out

To the Editors:

Congratulations, everyone, your new Dean of Students will be.....ta-daaa.....PETER GOLDSMITH!

That's right, folks, Bill Stackman was not chosen. That means that the only candidate who specifically expressed his devotion to working with students and for students was not chosen. That means that the man who has repeatedly proven his devotion, dedication and true love for this school was not chosen. That means that the right candidate for the position was not chosen; worse than that, it means that the wrong candidate was chosen.

Bill Stackman was clearly the better candidate of the remaining two, if only for the fact that he knows Oberlin and its students a hell of a lot better than someone from Dartmouth can. Dartmouth. Not that there's anything wrong with Dartmouth, but just think about the differences between it and Oberlin, and then think about whether you think Goldsmith is going to have the kind of leadership Oberlin needs and deserves.

Goldsmith has no Res. Life experience, and his administrative focus is mostly academic; at a college that requires us to live on campus for at least two years and to eat on board for all four years, this concerns me. Don't you think that someone filling the position of dean of residential life and services should at least have some experience with the area? Third World House and Asia House, listen up: he thinks that all program houses and student programs should be linked to academic departments. How will that affect us as a community? What will happen to the program houses that are not supported by an academic department? His experience with LGBT concerns: he has a relative that's gay. Oh, let's all clap! Just because I told my mom that I'm bisexual doesn't mean she knows anything about queer issues. These are only a few examples of why Peter Goldsmith is wrong for the position of Dean of Residential Life and Services.

All this translates to: Bill Stackman got shafted. And so did you.

Anyone who cares about students' voices on this campus should be outraged. Anyone who has any kind of concern about the direction of Res. Life on this campus should be outraged. Anyone who cares about this school and its policies should be outraged. Anyone who thinks Nancy Dye should make decisions based on what's best for the school instead of on what's best for her should be outraged.

Conveniently, Nancy's out of town until April 19. However, All Roads starts April 12 and lasts through April 24 this year, so it should be an interesting couple of weeks .... If you want to make your voice heard, write. Talk. Shout. But whatever you do, do. Do something. Don't just sit back and think it won't affect you, because it will. This man will shape Res. Life and its policies. There are so many issues going on right now that point to the importance of having a capable, sympathetic, and understanding leader of Res. Life. And that man is not Peter Goldsmith. That man is - and should be - Bill Stackman.

-Jane Glynn, College sophomore, President, ACLU-Oberlin College