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The
revised 2002-03 Student Handbook has a few changes this year, and one revised
regulation has students up-in-arms. In the Student Handbook from the 2001-02
school year, the alcohol policy C under Section I of the Residence Hall Policy
Quick Reference Guide states: "residents who are of legal drinking age
may not provide alcohol to students under the legal drinking age."
This is not only a campus regulation, but it is a local, state, and federal
law that is enforced on and off campus.
However, in the revised 2002-03 Student Handbook, a new phrase has been added
to the same alcohol policy. It now reads: "residents who are of legal drinking
age may not provide alcohol to those who are under age nor should a student
under the age of 21 be in the presence of alcohol."
This means that students under the age of 21 will be in violation of the alcohol policy if they are caught in any situation where alcohol is present, even if they are not consuming an alcoholic beverage. However, Director of Residence Life, Keith Moore agrees that there are "gray areas" to this policy, but those areas are based on circumstance. For example, Moore stated that if there was a student residing in a room who was over 21 with a beer in his hand, and his roommate was under 21 with a Coke in hand, he would have no problem with it. However, if there were excessive beer bottles strewn about the room and both roommates were present, he would have to sanction the individuals under the alcohol policy.
Yet, some students are upset with this change in policy. "Part of college life is getting to meet people, and the easiest way to do that is through the social scene," said one freshman student that wished to remain unidentified. "I don't want to go to the parties to drink, but now, just because I'm not 21, I can't hang out because there's alcohol present. It's just frustrating."
Many popular local establishments do allow admittance to college students under the legal drinking age on certain nights; allotted "college night." While there are those of legal drinking age consuming alcoholic beverages during these nights, those under 21 are allowed to be present, but not permitted to consume alcoholic beverages.
Please see Drinking, more NEWS
The
used book-shelving units VWC purchased from Hollins College, during the summer
of 1999, disappeared. VWC purchased 151 units of book shelving for $15,100,
for which VWC paid only $100 per unit. In 1999, the catalog cost without a discount,
for one vertical unit was $350 dollars. One used vertical unit ranged from $125
to $307 dollars in 1999.
Although neither party signed a written purchase order, for services rendered, R&H Systems, Inc. was employed by VWC to pick up the units from Hollins College, store and deliver them when VWC called for them to be installed. The agreement also included the storage of the shelving units for a period of 30-60 days, from October to November of 1999.
R&H, located in Petersburg, Va., provides systems-furniture and case-good installation along with warehousing and corporate relocation services. "We picked them up from Hollins College, took them apart and transferred them to storage," said Doug Edwards, R&H Systems Manager.
"VWC was billed in two payments. A payment of $4,500 up front and a $5,000 payment, after completing the job, a total of $9,500 in all," Edwards said. "It wasn't until November 15, 1999 or somewhere around that, when VWC called and wanted them assembled and installed," Edwards said. During the first phase of renovating the library, R&H assembled and installed half of the units.
Please see Library, more NEWS
For 38 freshmen, their Residence Hall has been the third floor at the Lake
Wright Sleep Inn, less than one mile from campus, for the fifth time in school
history. According to Keith Moore, Director of Residence Life, this is a result
of more students than anticipated staying on campus and a larger than expected
Freshman class this year.
"If these trends continue, we will probably do this next year," said
Moore. He also indicated that if such a situation occurs several years running,
a new Residence Hall might be in order.
Cindy Dixon, the Area Coordinator for the hotel, has moved 12 of the former hotel guests to open spaces, including some freshmen to Village III, a highly unusual move. The hotel stay has imposed problems, concedes Moore, especially with the shuttle service. The shuttle runs at fixed times between Wesleyan and the Hotel, but it can be difficult to coordinate everyone's social habits, eating times and class times.
"Time management is critical," noted Dixon. For hotel residents who do not have a car, this is a major sticking point of the hotel. Freshman Erin Lutz lived in Lake Wright for six days after arriving at Wesleyan before being moved to Eggleston Hall. According to Lutz, the hotel room was impersonal and did not feel like home. She complained that there was little desk space and that "the commute was difficult." Lutz also added that noise had to be kept to an absolute minimum. She was however, impressed by Dixon, calling the AC “amazing” and saying that Dixon helped her move out of the hotel when a dorm room opened up.
Please see Hotel, more News
Ryan
Brown, Assistant Dean of Students for Residence Life and Community Development,
received his first award, YWCA's Volunteer of the Year in July for his work
in the RESPONSE program. Brown's second award was the Men of Vision award presented
by the Virginians Aligned Against Sexual Assault (VAASA) in September.
"It's the first award I've received," said Brown. "I had no idea about being nominated." RESPONSE is a program that helps sexual assault victims by offering a variety of services, including counseling, a 24-hour crisis hotline, support groups, court advocacy, hospital accompaniment and prevention education programs. RESPONSE's staff consists of both professional staff members and counselors, as well as volunteers. RESPONSE currently has 42 volunteers on their staff, three of which are men.
"A majority of assaults are males on women," said Brown. "Some women find it comforting to speak with a male. I've never encountered a refusal because I'm a male." Laura Wikle, director of RESPONSE, sees male volunteers helping to change the public's perception of sexual assault.
"It helps because traditionally sexual assault is a woman's issue," said Wikle. "We are working to change perception to a societal issue. When males volunteer, it helps toward the goal." Brown was selected from the volunteers that take part in YWCA of Southeastern Virginia. He volunteers about four or five times a month. Each time he volunteers, he works a 14-hour shift.
"He's had a tremendous impact on the program," said Wikle. "He has donated a lot of time. We regularly talk to Ryan. Some volunteers we only talk to once or twice a month." Brown first became involved in sexual assault because he wanted to become active on campus and take on the duties of the sexual assault pager and also due to his wife's involvement in women's issues. He shares the sexual assault pager with Kristen Whalen, Assistant Dean of Students for Residence Life and Student Leadership.
"If you notice, I carry two pagers," said Brown. "The black
is for campus. The blue is for someone connected to a sexual assault on campus."
Brown and Whalen act as companions and advocates for the victim.
"We let them know options," said Brown.
In order to be responsible for the sexual assault pager, Brown needed to go through the necessary training and education at the YWCA. Although his training and education were initially for the Wesleyan campus, he decided to continue with YWCA. "Why limit helping to just Wesleyan?" said Brown. "I guess you could say I felt morally obligated." Brown's local work led to a statewide award, the Men of Vision award, which was given to only five males in Va.
"RESPONSE nominated him as Man of the Year," said Wikle. "Man
of the Year is for men who are role models and who have contributed to the elimination
of sexual violence." RESPONSE is looking for more volunteers. The next
training session begins on Sept. 17. For those interested, contact the YWCA
at (757) 623-2115.
If you experience a sexual assault, the hotline is always available. Contact
the RESPONSE hotline at (757) 622-4300.
Site created and maintained by Linda De Rosa.