What does last month's dissolution of Old House CC mean for the future of residential space at the University? If you want a clear cut answer, don't ask administrators.
While most living group leaders share similar opinions about the dissolution and its meaning, administrators seem uncharacteristically divided.
"I believe there will be greater expectations for the respectful behavior of groups, and for their adhering to the annual review process," said Vice President for Student Affairs Janet Dickerson. "This comes, in part, from the University's interest in providing equal opportunity in housing for independent students."
With Dickerson's departure for Princeton University July 1, however, the future of residential space will be left in question, as the remaining student deans have expressed different opinions.
Dean of Student Development Barbara Baker said there will be no change in philosophy, as expectations of living groups have always been high.
"We're continuing our emphasis and focus that we've always had on enhancing the residential experience," she said. "That's been our focus and it continues to be."
And although the University has never dissolved a living group through the annual review process, Annual Review Committee Chair Ben Ward said the Old House CC incident does not signal a change in University policy.
"We certainly, as a committee, are not trying to send a signal to anyone," he said. "We look at each case as it comes before us."
The answers to this issue lie with future Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Clack, who in his current position as director of Counseling and Psychological Services, has been far removed from residential life policy.
Clack said he did not yet know enough about these issues to make a definitive statement.
The debate over residential space follows the dissolution of Old House CC by a three-person committee composed of Dickerson, Baker and former Campus Council President Nikki Fetter.
This committee followed the recommendation of the ARC, which expressed disappointment over several deadlines missed by the house's leadership.
At a time when several living groups have faced serious judicial and annual review committee sanctions, a change in University philosophy could have a severe impact.
Student leaders said they felt the dissolution of Old House CC sent a message-no one should feel their place on campus is secure.
"I think it shows everyone that the possibility exists that you're not going to be around next year," said Delta Kappa Epsilon president and Trinity senior Alex Strauss. "It's definitely a wake up call to anyone who's going to do anything against University policy."
Chris Dieterich, Trinity senior and president of the Interfraternity Council, said that there does appear to be a heightened awareness of living group issues on campus, both philosophically and in practice.
"I think that a lot of complaints about living groups from other areas of the University... may be taken into consideration a little bit more," said Dieterich. "The [annual review] process was taken a little more seriously than in years past."
Several living group leaders feel the annual review process itself is flawed and that its inconsistencies were manifest in the Old House CC dissolution.
"I've always thought there were some very real pitfalls in the system," said Dieterich, who also serves as the president of Sigma Chi. He criticized the admission of several ARC members that they recommended dissolution without realizing it was a realistic possibility. "That line of thinking, the fact that that exists, is indicative of a system that is collapsing on itself.... That in and of itself is cause for a review of the review."
Others said they felt Old House CC was singled out. "There are other groups on campus who have done far worse and have not been punished nearly as bad," said Wayne Manor President Mihir Gandhi, a Trinity senior. "They seem to get away with a slap on the wrist."
Gandhi added that the annual review process should involve more faculty-student interaction.
Ward said the ARC is working on revisions to the process and mentioned that next year, house presidents will be required to submit monthly logs of the group's activities to their resident advisers.
"We're looking at ways of bringing more people into [the process]... so that the presidents will feel a greater sense of accountability," he said.
But former Mirecourt President Kat Kirchner, a Trinity senior, said she felt current policy was already too stringent.
"Being a member of a group is a positive experience in itself, and this membership instills in students a sense of self-worth," she said. "For this reason, all selective houses have 'reason to exist.'"
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