Page Two Editorial Opinion Collegian Requests Probe Of J.R.C. Recently there have ap peared many mis-happenings within our closely knit system at Behrend Campus. The S.G.A. and the Behrend Administration have tried to solve many of these problems with the least amount of student unrest possible. Until this time this would have been thought to be true. Now there exists a break down in communication, not from the Administrations view point, but rather from the students organization, namely the Joint Resident Council. As seen within the content of this publication, we have made totally public the result of the recent issue of extended visitation hours, but if you take notice, the date of the letter is March 3. This letter released by Benjamin A. Lane, Dean of Student Affairs, was to be made publicly known shortly after it had been dated. Why is it now we hear of its content a month after the letter was to be released? Dean Lane’s letter was sent to the Joint Resident Council and from there it was to be Editorial The editorials appearing in this newspaper will be opinionated and therefore subject to criticism. All letters that are typewritten of 200 words or less, and submitted to the newspaper staff will be printed with the exception of those that are repetitions or in poor taste. The staff reserves the right to correct Hehtettii Collegian (Sift |ftxss Asaariattim of (SottutununraUi; (ftampusrs Assistant managing editor, Carol Turkington; Sports editor, Dave Ruef; Assistant sports editor, Tony Alo; Photo editor, Gary Pisani; Reporters: Pam Babcock, Kathy Baker, Carolyn Beck, Mike Chiricuzuo, Charles Eschweiler, Ray Geiger, Tom Harvey, Carol Hughes, Carol Jamison, Rebecca LaPlante, Terri Rich, Dale Carlos Watazychyn; Staff: Elaine Bernarding, Barb Jerman, Roseann Leo, Pam Moore, Abbie Morrow, Ken Mushrush; Cartoonist, Mike Loren; Advertising manager, Bob Moulin; Circulation manager, Dave Kempa; Faculty Adviser David Daniel. Mailing Address- Behrend Campus, Station Road, Erie, Pa. 16510 Office- Student Offices, Reed Union Building Office Hours: 9:30 a.m.-4;30 p.m. Monday through Friday Phone: 899-3101 Ext.23B Opinions expressed by the editors and staff of the Behrend Collegian are not necessarily those of the University Administration, faculty, or the student body. Published every Thursday throughout the Fall, Winter, and Spring Terms, with exclusions for holidays and term breaks. t'OCSHJSZ* gr °*Y* fbpfq.b' Lortcn disbursed to the S.G.A. and the students. But instead it sat in waiting to be picked up by a member of the J.R.C. Why wasn’t this letter received' immediatly, futhering the action of this so called effective organization? The only possible answer is that this organization does not. generate the student interest it so duly professes. Therefore, we request an investagation upon the effectivness of the Joint Resident Council. We further propose that a committee be formed to conduct the afore mentioned request. This committee should consist of the following individuals: Benjamin A. Lane, Dean of Student Affairs, Daniel P. Fiorentino, Resident Coor dinator, Arthur L. Sprague, President of J.R.C., Alan J. Quinlan, President of S.G.A. and a Collegian represen tative to clarify the request, to be chosen when the com mittee is formed. It is the hope, that this investigation if ensued, will determine the representative ability of this organization. Policy or delete portions of all letters for publication purposes. All letters must be signed, but names will be withheld upon request. Term standing, major, and hometown must be included. Signed columns represent the view of the author only and do not reflect the Editorial policy of the Behrend Collegian. Member of Doug Leich liter Editor-in-chief Jack Richenbacher Business Manager fVtv t<sl myself 'OohFxnq {£ T Behrend Collegian Open Letter to the Students Why No Extended Visitation March 3,1972 Mr. George Frola, Chairman The Joint Resident Council The Behrend Campus SUBJECT: Extended visitation policy Dear Mr. Frola: In your recent communication to me regarding “extended visitation policy”, your con cluding paragraph requests that I “read and evaluate” the new proposal. In accord with that request I would like to present to you the evaluation of the Office of Student Affairs regarding your proposal. I. To begin, I think it is ap propriate to review the history of the parietal rules governing students in residence at the Behrend Campus over the past several years. The residence hall program began four years ago and at that time operated under what current standards would regard as a stringent series of rules and procedures; these regulations were primarily concerned with women students and included sign-outs and sign ins, overnight permission and a whole host of regulations regarding the student’s personal life. In a comparatively short period of time all of those regulations have been withdrawn. As recently as a year ago the open house program at Behrend was restricted to several hours on Sunday afternoon, and as you know last year was extended to include weekends only. The present open house code - was established in October of last year permits open house seven days a week. In addition there are open lobbies and the floor operation of the code functions vith very few restrictions. All of the changes in the student life in the residence hall have come about through the recom mendation of the students themselves functioning through their appropriately designated government bodies. By and large this has been done with a minimum of difficulty and in a spirit of mutual respect and concern. When the current open house proposal, now in effect, was made it was assumed by the Office of Student Affairs that this would be the proposal for a year and it was not our thinking at the time that it would be subject to review. 11. At the present time in dividuals both at official and unofficial levels within the University are seriously con cerned about the concept of visitation as it is currently operating at the University Park Campus. In addition I am sure, you are aware, there is national concern over the whole area of residence hall living. Not only has there been an inordinate increase in the amount of theft taking place within the residence halls, but there has also been an in crease in threats to individuals and property as well. There is always the concern of the non student and *his ability to operate quite freely under most open house or visitation procedures. Finally as a recent article in the New York Times indicates, “college officials as well as students have become alarmed by thefts, muggings, rapes, and even murder.” It is a common ViALDo * healthy faeccK—. Rau-e «no4< ** • tendency of the part of individuals in the face of national trends and incidents to assume that such incidents could not happen in their own lives; this has been at times a regrettable and indeed tragic point of view. It has been observed, with some justification, that all of these incidents could occur on a campus where visitation does not exist; however, current in vestigations tend to indicate that there is a direct correlation between thefts and other serious problems and the extent of open house codes. Although the operation of the current open house code at the Behrend Campus would seem to be operating reasonably well in certain areas, recent incidents have indicated that the control measures within the code may not be sufficient to insure the security that must be a part of such a program. There is par ticular concern with the overnight guest and failure of students to comply with the Joint Residence Council requirement that such guests be registered. An open house program such as is in operation at Behrend, can only function properly if all members of the residence community assume respon sibility for control. In the case of overnight guests the element of control rests almost exclusively with the resident student in whose room the guest is staying. One of the primary concerns of the Student Affairs Staff is that most reports of infractions of the code have been made by residence hall staff, not by students, especially in the area of overnight guests where the responsibility of the student is critical. It is felt by this office that there is need for strengthening these aspects of the present open house program. 111. In my letter to the Joint Residence Council in which ap proval was given for the present open house program I voiced concern about accommodations Donations Requested Freedom of P.O.W.'s Over 1,500 Americans are either Prisoners of War of Missing in Action in Southeast Asia. Aside from the inhumane treatment witnessed by those few who have returned, the most tragic-aspect is that most of the families of these men do not know if their sons, husbands, or fathers are alive or dead. Hanoi won’t tell them. This bracelet honors the man whose name is inscribed and includes the date he was lost. It should be worn with the vow that it will not be removed until the day the Red Cross is allowed into Hanoi and can assure his family of his status and that he receives ADDRESS. Please send nickel-plated, or. Waldo's 'heroiily |0« ip But waid* a vani&LtT l-Ess«N about eRv STATIONS ..-Yew being made for those students who conscientiously cannot ac cept either the spirit or actuality of open house. I requested that these students should be given an opportunity to make their feelings known and that plans should be made to comply with their requests by developing living units where open house will not be in effect. I have had several students over the past several weeks in my office voicing their concern about open house and in addition I have had other observations through students and staff regarding the concern of students with what they consider the problem of open house. The Joint Residence Council at this point has not made any workable recommendation to comply with what seems to this office to be a major con cern. IV. Finally the Office of Student Affairs is generally concerned about the viability of the open house concept in residential life. To tills end it is concerned with developing sound objectives research in this area so that future plans can be made which" will guarantee an acceptable mode of life for all students. For the past several months the Office of Students Affairs has planned to do research on the present open house program. This research will be done during the spring term. Taking all of the above matter into consideration it is the con sidered opinion, of the Office of Student Affairs, that an extension of open, house is not appropriate. We fully appreciate the en thusiasm and good will of many of the students who have worked hard to make this program what it is and hope that through proper research and more study a truly viable program can be developed. Sincerely yours, Benjamin A. Lane Dean of Student Affairs the humane treatment due men. Distributed by VIVA (Voices In Vital America) a non-profit, non political national ’ student organization dedicated to the fact that progress and freedom can only be achieved and maintained by national and responsible ac tion. To cover our costs a donation of $2.50 for nickel or $3.00 for copper is requested. Enclosed is my donation for $ Make checks payable to VlVA—donations are tax deductible. VIVA 10966 LeConte Los Angeles, CA. 90024 .solid copper bracelets April 20, 1972
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