Editorial: Remaking Student Affairs

Incoming Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta is a welcome addition to the ranks of Duke administrators. His desire to make expeditious improvements to his department is encouraging. Moneta will need to address many issues directly affecting student life.

Last April, creating an alcohol policy was a key part of the University's agenda for the ensuing school year. This April, the alcohol issue still lingers in administrators' minds. The Alcohol Task Force has put forth a proposal to deal with the problem. However, the plan contains flaws, and Moneta should address these points--even if it means scratching all of the committee's previous work.

Moneta also faces a large, inefficient student affairs division. The department structure evolved from the organization brought in at a different time when Janet Dickerson came in to run Student Affairs 11 years ago. Moneta must reexamine these posts and their roles. The people in the department have good intentions, but, in many cases, their job descriptions limit them to tasks that apparently do not contribute to student life. Streamlining operations so that these people can do more would benefit the department.

Still, Student Affairs does many things well. Counseling and Psychological Services and the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life are services that fill student needs. Student Affairs' inability to create effective policy, however, is frustrating.

Student Affairs officials are too often tepid about standing up for something. Moneta must be willing to stand by his people and the decisions that they will be making. They need to have support to make those critical decisions.

At the same time, Moneta must state University policy explicitly on issues that administrators have refused to make more lucid. The balance between greek and independent living ranks high among these necessary clarifications. Where do fraternities fit in the University's future as it progresses to a more intellectual campus? Many students have the impression that the administration is trying to remove fraternities from campus, but the University's actions are not as definitive as future policies appear to be. Fraternities have not been discounted in long-range plans.

The role of fraternities is just one of several matters that Moneta needs to address. University officials have sent mixed messages on judicial decisions, the annual review process, social space and the faculty's role in student life.

In clarifying University policy, Moneta may irritate some people. Making strong decisions is difficult when superiors are hesitant to make strong decisions themselves. Just as Moneta must stand up for his staff in their decisions, President Nan Keohane must be willing to support her new vice president--and all of her administrators. She has put them in place to shape University policy and must let them operate in that mode. Moneta comes to Duke as a decision maker and should not be hindered in that approach.