If the point of college is to learn how to take control of your life and learn to deal with the consequences of your actions, personally and in the community, then Residence Life and Student Development are taking extra steps this year to provide students with a way to make sure that Cabrini alum are not shortchanged.
The student handbook this year has been divided into two separate books.
“The first book is the student handbook and is meant to be an informational resource for student use,” said David Carpenter, director of residence life. “The second book is a book of community standards and includes school policies along with student rights and responsibilities.”
In an effort to encourage students to take more responsibility for the community in which they live, a Residence Hall Association has been incorporated into the new community standards book. A trial RHA was initiated last semester in the houses. A house senator was chosen to be a representative of the community who would report any student concerns to the Resident Assistant and to the Administration. This year there will be 26 elected representatives from all residential housing areas who will come together to form a new student run RHA.
The RHA will function as a programming group, coming up with suggestions for programs that will also involve commuters, as well as serving as a conduit for suggestions to be made to the administration. According to Carpenter, “If a group of students are concerned about the food service on campus, we would sit down with the head of dining services and try to work out a solution.”
With the efforts that have been put in place, it should be easier for students to voice their concerns around campus and begin taking a more assertive stance in their community. The new handbook is currently available in the mailroom. Simply take the slip that is in your mailbox to the mailroom window to receive your copy. The community standards handbook will hopefully be available in the mailroom by the end of the week.
