Shameful decision
I’m writing in reference to the Feb. 1 article “Mount Vernon’s Pelham Hall to house men,” (p. 1) on behalf of my friends who live there.
I can understand the administration’s desire to create rooms for men on the Mount Vernon campus simply because of the lack of housing (which could be remedied by accepting less students – but the University is too avaricious for that).
However, it is not fair to “resolve” the housing issues by taking the residence hall and making it into a guys’ dorm. Not only is the University going back on its word to keep Mount Vernon a women’s campus as long as there was an interest to keep it that way (by interest it apparently meant financial gain), it didn’t even consult students. The dean of Mount Vernon wasn’t even aware of the plan. Why?
The new housing decision is unfair to students who chose the Mount Vernon campus because of the unique environment it provides. The University is ignoring the needs, wants and desires of the people who are truly involved. It’s just plain inconsiderate, short-sighted and greedy. Speaking to the “genius” who came up with this idea – shame on you.
-Katherine Wootton
freshman
Forgotten promises
After reading the Jan. 28 article “GW reconsiders housing policy” (p. 9), I was absolutely disgusted. The article stated that if housing at the Mount Vernon campus is the last option available to Foggy Bottom students at this month’s housing lottery, they can opt to be placed on a guaranteed housing waiting list.
However, current Mount Vernon residents facing the same situation of last-choice housing at Mount Vernon will not be granted the same option. They either will have to accept the last-option housing or place themselves on a non-guaranteed waiting list. This is unacceptable.
Mount Vernon residents were promised by this University numerous times over the last year that they would be considered evenly with Foggy Bottom students when it came to housing. Mount Vernon residents were promised that they would be in the general student housing pool. With this new housing plan, the University is putting Mount Vernon residents at the bottom of the totem pole once again. The plan gives students who live at Mount Vernon the immediate thought that their lottery numbers will not be as high as those with the same standing but who live on the Foggy Bottom campus.
Once again the University has made sure that Mount Vernon residents will not be equal when the decision for housing comes around. I feel it needs to be understood that Mount Vernon residents are GW students first and then Mount Vernon residents. This seems to be something that has passed over a lot of peoples’ heads.
-Naomi Schneidmill
freshman
Volleyball, anyone?
For many years, GW had an active volleyball club that scheduled regular playing times several days a week at the Smith Center. Members and others could just drop in and play some hard-hitting volleyball.
Now, apparently because a few key members have left, the club seems to be moribund and there is virtually no opportunity for volleyball aficionados to play at GW, other than in tournaments.
So, if there are students, faculty, staff or others who would like to play volleyball, please let me know so we can jump-start the club and get some court time reserved.
Although the GW Volleyball Club should of course be student-run, I would be happy to serve as a catalyst to help bring players together so they can re-establish the organization.
If you are a volleyball player who might be interested in playing, please contact me and give me your name, work and home phone numbers, e-mail address and some idea of your schedule so we can pick a convenient time for the first meeting to form the club.
You can send me an e-mail at [email protected] or send a fax to 659-4322. You can also call me at 994-7229 and give the information to me or my secretary. Also, if you have friends who like to play, please pass along the information to them.
-John F. Banzhaf III
GW Law School professor
Time for new rules
The Hatchet’s Jan. 28 editorial “Staying separate” (p. 4) regarding residence hall cohabitation was blatantly misleading. The two students who are appealing the Community Living and Learning Center’s policy are not romantically involved. Could issues arise if unmarried couples choose to live together? Sometimes, yes. Is that relevant to these two students? No. The CLLC policy, which also prohibits “private and/or intimate behavior” in residence halls, is anachronistic.
The responsibility of choosing a compatible roommate should fall on the residents, and any consequences of that decision will also fall solely on those residents. Just because GW is a private university does not mean it is qualified to determine who can and cannot be compatible as roommates.
-Jonathan Werve
freshman
