Campus Informer - April 12, 2006
Underwear-related expulsion, rowdy Mormons and more news from schools around the country.
By Annika Carlson, Hope College
Wednesday April 12, 2006
Northern Exposure?
University of Chicago
Be careful about getting too comfortable in your on-campus housing—you could wind up homeless. Second-year student Jack Chua got expelled from University of Chicago’s on-campus housing system last week for relaxing in his house common room sporting nothing but boxers. His fellow house members joined together to support him with a petition, but the decision was final: he’s now banned from all dorms and dining halls on-campus.
Chua’s expulsion is the latest in a string of controversial crackdowns made by the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing. Officials point to Chua’s record of previous alcohol and partying violations, but students from his residence insist that “if anyone else had done it, it wouldn’t have mattered.” This event, students say, is one of many indications that student housing is unresponsive to student needs. Barney Keller, a columnist for the University newspaper, translates the administration’s “no comment” on housing problems as “I can do whatever I want because I am the assistant grand lord sultan of the dormitories. And who cares if they complain, they’ll be gone in a couple of years anyway.” Though Chua is now comfortably settled in an off-campus apartment, other will surely think twice about offending the assistant grand lord sultan and other administrators by sitting around in their skivvies.
Bringing Flava Flav from the streets to the classroom
Howard University
Hip-hop artists, academics and students met last week to consider the impact of hip-hop music on various levels of society at Howard’s Hip-Hop and Higher Education Symposium. Panels and speakers primarily focused on integrating more discussion of hip-hop and its cultural components into the school’s curricula, including consideration of the country’s first undergraduate hip-hop minor at Howard. Speakers considered the hip-hop minor as a significant step toward the recognition of hip-hop’s historical and modern influence on American culture and politics. Panelist DJ Iran praised the event and its sponsors, saying, “I’m blown away by hip-hop being a possible minor. I think it will be a brave endeavor…If Howard has to be the catalyst for hip-hop to be documented, then it is a great facilitator for it.” And then he added: “Building nuclear reactors for scaring the Great Satan and Zionist entity, err, excuse me, peaceful energy purposes, is my country’s right.”*
* He did not actually say that last sentence, but that’s what we imagine he was thinking, what with being named after Iran and all.
Mormon students stand up for free speech
Brigham-Young University
You read that right—in possibly the biggest scandal at ultra-Mormon BYU since the school disowned Real World star Julie Stoffer, students and faculty members joined together last week to protest the dismissal of a faculty member and graduate student.
BYU Student Association (BYUSA) advisor Todd Hendricks was fired last month after publishing a letter in the student newspaper criticizing the Association’s system of electing student government leaders. Administrative officials responded to his call for greater electoral transparency as an act of disloyalty, saying they could “never trust my judgment again,” according to Hendricks.
Students organized protests and a t-shirt campaign to draw attention to their dissatisfaction with the election system and support of Hendricks. Protestors held signs reading, “BYUSSR: Freedom of speech not needed here” and “Enter to learn and learn to shut up,” emphasizing that the Hendricks’ dismissal is part of a larger BYU problem with academic freedom. Protesting students are intent on criticizing BYUSA constructively—as student Ashley Sanders put it, “This is not a stunt… We want a better BYUSA.”
Students hope to use the increasing publicity of Hendricks’ dismissal to spur the university into action. “BYU basically only responds to PR disasters,” student Kate Kelly said. “They put out fires but they don’t look inside the system, and then they wonder why students don’t think they have a voice.”
Notre Dame President stands up for vaginas everywhere
University of Notre Dame
After ten weeks of debate, Notre Dame President John Jenkins released a statement last week announcing his intention to allow the performance of The Vagina Monologues on campus.
Jenkins’ statement expressed his desire to uphold both the university’s Catholic heritage and modern commitment to academic freedom. Citing the need for Catholic universities to be places of intellectual discernment and confrontation with difficult issues, Jenkins firmly stated that “I am very determined that we not suppress speech on this campus… or neglect the Gospel that inspired this University.” Although some students anticipated a hard-line approach favoring Catholic doctrine over academic openness, Jenkins’ statement revealed a nuanced stance designed to encourage genuine discussion about the relationship between Catholic teachings and modern publications, much to the relief of many on campus.
In recognition of Jenkins’ openness, student organizers of the on-campus performance of The Vagina Monologuesare currently working on researching and writing a new play. Loyal Daughters focuses on women’s experiences at Notre Dame, tackling the issues presented in the Monologues from a more local, personal viewpoint. Organizers of the Loyal Daughtersproject acknowledge that although there will likely be conflicts in the future, Jenkins’ position was crucial to their efforts.
Riots = Love for Terps fans
University of Maryland
Students at University of Maryland show their love, once again, by rioting after the women’s basketball team defeated Duke for the national championship last week. The “celebration” heated up as participants set t-shirts on fire and tried unsuccessfully to overturn an occupied UM shuttle bus.
And if a riot wasn’t enough praise, this one had a specific purpose: proving the women’s basketball team was as important to students as the men’s team. Rioters, like student Erin Brennan, complained that police underestimated the potential for riots after a women’s game: “I guess they didn’t think women’s fans were good enough for horses,” she said, apparently equating “good enough” with “destructive enough.” Other fans made similar comments, such as: “Go women,” and “For us to have [rioted] means they mean something to us.”
Citing the higher popularity of the men’s team, the Lady Terps appreciated the violent response. Freshman team member Melissa Coleman said “When we heard they were rioting for us that felt great ‘cause you know our student support this season wasn’t anywhere near the men’s.” Other team members were excited about the response, like junior Shay Doron. “I didn’t believe it, then I talked to a few people and they were like ‘We’re out rioting!’” Doron said. “And honestly I couldn’t get an image until I saw the paper this morning — it was amazing.” Nothing like some pointless destruction to give a sports team the boost it needs—but maybe next time the Terps fans can all buy pom-poms or something instead.
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Comments
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Annika, YOU ARE SO COOL!
— Hilary Pitchlynn - Apr 13, 05:41 PM - #Why do we have to show our collective “violent streak” to celebrate the success of a college basketball team? What is the difference between condemning the routine soccer riots & this type of immature, irresponsible behavior? Many people who don’t get IN to college must be wondering why did THEY get in? Indeed!
— David T Gray, SSGT, USAF 67-71 - Apr 14, 11:24 AM - #Students everywhere should be allowed to dress how they please! Isn’t that what freedom of expression’s all about?
— P. Bolton - Apr 18, 10:36 PM - #