Pubdate: Tue, 20 Apr 2004
Source: Emory Wheel, The (Emory U, GA Edu)
Copyright: 2004 The Emory Wheel
Contact:  http://www.emorywheel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2781
Author: Spencer Dean
Note: Turman West/South RHA President Spencer Dean is a College senior from 
Lafayette, Calif.

THE TROUBLE WITH TURMAN

A major loophole in WebRoomz has created an environment inconducive to a 
positive freshman living experience. Throughout the 2003-2004 term, the 
administration has encountered conduct problems at the Turman Residential 
Complex. One could cite the physical disconnect from the main campus or 
possibly the lack of concern by residential staff members. However, both 
assertions are unlikely. A higher amount of reported incidents involving 
alcohol and drugs have occurred in Turman than in any other freshman 
residence hall.

While clearly not all students living in Turman abuse alcohol and drugs, a 
higher percentage likely exists there than in any other freshman dorm. One 
cannot deny that Turman remains the last choice of most prospective 
freshmen. The housing lottery sought to heighten diversity, but, as 
mentioned in previous Wheel articles, the system has appeared to 
increasingly polarize freshmen.

The possibility that a majority of those who frequently partake in alcohol 
and drugs received low housing lottery numbers is improbable. But since 
individuals who regularly engage in alcohol or drugs tend to be much lazier 
than the average incoming freshman, their procrastination toward selecting 
a room may have created a haven for those who wait until the last minute. 
Combining these students with those bitter hallmates who did in fact 
receive low lottery numbers, and taking into account the dorm's isolation 
from the rest of the freshman halls, Turman has become a powder keg for 
rowdy and potentially destructive behavior.

On the surface, one might strictly blame the students for such behavior. 
Yet some members of the Turman staff - and they know who they are - seem 
more determined to "bust" their residents than to maintain a safe living 
environment. Consequently, it appears that a higher number of Turman 
students do not feel comfortable interacting with the staff because of its 
propensity to seek disciplinary action rather than encouraging positive 
relationships.

If eradicating underage drinking and illegal drug use is the goal of some 
members of the Turman staff, they are failing miserably.

Instead of constantly reprimanding those who break school policy, the 
residential staff should seek to create a hall where students do not 
hesitate to approach their hall mentors about alcohol and drug abuse. For 
residential staff, John Bolds' suicide should have reinforced the necessity 
of fostering positive relationships with students. If freshmen do not 
generally feel comfortable approaching their hall leaders, then everyone - 
from the dean of students to the sophomore advisers - is performing 
inadequately.

In the end, every member of the Emory community should be more concerned 
with maintaining the health and well-being of the students than with 
creating a Draconian environment of fear and mistrust. Constant alcohol and 
drug abuse cannot be justified as healthy lifestyles. Nevertheless, the 
answer is not to consistently bust students for underage drinking rather 
than to promote meaningful dialogue. University laws and procedures must be 
enforced, but a far graver problem exists when students are not able to 
express their problems to their hall advisors - advisers who are supposed 
to work toward constructing an emotional safety net for the students. 
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager