Shawn RicePublic disapproval for the Cabrini administration has been very frequent lately. From controversy with on-campus housing to the dispute of John Dzik’s termination, negative emotions have been widely circulating at Cabrini. I have a new complaint to add to the list of disappointments.
Recently, an unnamed student in the Cabrini apartment complex (CAC) received a letter requesting a meeting with the area coordinator of the apartments. The purpose of the meeting was to address a previous violation of the school’s alcohol policy.
It was not the first time the student had met with the area coordinator for an alcohol violation. The area coordinator proved this fact to be true with documented occasions that he recorded where an R.A. or the area coordinator himself had to take action.
The student was fully aware that he had been in trouble before and was ready to accept the consequences. What happened in the meeting was very surprising. The area coordinator presented the student with a very tough choice. The student either had to rat-out his friends and tell the area coordinator the names of all the people that were underage in the apartment on the night in question or face probation and possible removal from campus.
I thoroughly understand that the area coordinator has an important obligation to maintain peace in the CAC. I feel, however, that it is not the obligation of students to take down the names of students that enter the CAC. It is also not the duty of students to check identification cards for who is 21 and over.
Isn’t this the reason why we have a desk with a public safety officer at the front doors? Nevertheless, I am struggling to figure out how the student being charged with the violation is going to recall every person who was underage in his apartment on a date that was over a week ago.
On the night of the violation, an R.A. was said to have cleared out the apartment and ended the party. Shouldn’t the R.A. have taken down the names of the people in the apartment, rather than the student? We pay enough tuition at this school to have someone accept the responsibilities like these for the residents.
During the meeting, the student said that there was no definite ultimatum set. The student left the meeting unaware of whether or not he would be kicked-off campus if he did not “tell-on” his fellow students. I think the student could at least be given the satisfaction of knowing what will happen to him if he does not succumb to the request of the area coordinator. Notifying someone of their definite consequences is merely a sign of respect; respect Cabrini residents deserve.
As stated before, I know that R.A.s and area coordinators have important jobs to uphold. I simply think that there are better ways that complicated situations like these can be handled.
Posted to the web by Shawn Rice
