2008 Woodie Awards
Congress Discusses Plan of Action With Students
Devin Murphy '10
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: News
The student body and Student Congress are joining forces in the fight against the Providence College administration's attempt to define the College culture for students. Congress' Outreach Committee organized a student forum in McPhail's, Monday, Sept. 29, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for students to talk about the new alcohol policy, its flaws, and how to get the administration to listen to the student body.
The first half of the forum was devoted to discussing individual elements of the policy in small groups. Students divided themselves among seven tables. Each table had a specific aspect of the alcohol policy to discuss. The topics were: process, hard alcohol and amnesty, alternatives, off-campus and student life, over the limit, impact and implications, being 21 on campus, and awareness. Each table was also provided with a large sheet of paper and markers to write down any thoughts or ideas group members talked about. After 15 minutes they shared their thoughts and opinions with everyone and then proceeded to switch tables.
At the "process" table students talked about the way they were notified of the policy changes and the way they now view the College's administration. Katie Gilsenan '11 deemed contradictory some of the answers the administration has given the student body for why a new alcohol policy was urgently needed. She said that the administration expressed that drastic changes were needed to curb the alcohol abuse problem on campus. However, she pointed out that the administration has also said that a change in culture will take years.
"If you didn't expect the impact to be so drastic why did you make the policy so drastic?" said Gilsenan.
Caroline Rende '11 responded to Gilsenan's question.
"I don't think they came up with effective ways to deal with the problem," said Rende. "A lot of drastic decisions that they made are taking away from the familial feeling [of the campus] . . . and that's why I wanted to come here."
The first half of the forum was devoted to discussing individual elements of the policy in small groups. Students divided themselves among seven tables. Each table had a specific aspect of the alcohol policy to discuss. The topics were: process, hard alcohol and amnesty, alternatives, off-campus and student life, over the limit, impact and implications, being 21 on campus, and awareness. Each table was also provided with a large sheet of paper and markers to write down any thoughts or ideas group members talked about. After 15 minutes they shared their thoughts and opinions with everyone and then proceeded to switch tables.
At the "process" table students talked about the way they were notified of the policy changes and the way they now view the College's administration. Katie Gilsenan '11 deemed contradictory some of the answers the administration has given the student body for why a new alcohol policy was urgently needed. She said that the administration expressed that drastic changes were needed to curb the alcohol abuse problem on campus. However, she pointed out that the administration has also said that a change in culture will take years.
"If you didn't expect the impact to be so drastic why did you make the policy so drastic?" said Gilsenan.
Caroline Rende '11 responded to Gilsenan's question.
"I don't think they came up with effective ways to deal with the problem," said Rende. "A lot of drastic decisions that they made are taking away from the familial feeling [of the campus] . . . and that's why I wanted to come here."
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TunaTacoGrande
posted 10/03/08 @ 6:18 PM EST
That's right, you students should fight this. The administration is trying to turn the campus into a Catholic retreat. Fight this! Don't let them ruin the PC experience for future students!
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