Author: Ben Dalgetty
On September 27, the General Assembly held its second meeting of the year. The meeting featured numerous representatives from the Residence Life and Housing Services staff, Facilities Management, Administration and Finance and other officials
The meeting focused on addressing the large number of student concerns about living on campus and included presentations from staff and a question-and-answer session. Dean Eric Frank discussed Oxy’s accreditation process with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The main WASC theme that Oxy will focus improvement around is “What should be the nature of a residential college in Los Angeles?” Frank said.
Following Frank’s presentation, Director of Residence Life and Housing Kecia Baker addressed some of the concerns about housing this year. “I want to stand up first and foremost and apologize,” Baker said, regarding the recent problems students have faced while living on campus.
Baker also took this opportunity to introduce Bobby Rodgers and Connor Nelson, the Upper and Middle Campus Area Coordinators. The school is still looking for an AC for lower campus following the loss of all three AC’s during the summer. In the interim, Assistant Director of Res Life Amanda Atkinson has been filling in.
Baker said the school has also begun the process of deciding how to renovate Bell-Young, Wylie and Erdman, the three residence halls closing after fall semester. The architects and designers contracted by the school to overhaul these dorms have proposed plans, which will be made available to students on October 9.
During the Q&A session, students at the meeting had the rare opportunity to directly question Oxy staff members. Most of the questions focused on either what went wrong with housing this year or what would be happening with housing next year.
Sara Flocken (sophomore) asked why students were allowed to sign up to live in Norris Orange despite Res Life’s knowledge that the dorm may be needed to house first-years. Baker responded with a number of reasons, including the decision to guarantee housing for all students.
“It is our goal and our hope and our determination that this will not happen again,” Baker said. Atkinson also said Norris falls under the category of special interest housing, and therefore students who did not sign up to live in quads initially should have known they might be moved.
Students questioned the lack of responsiveness in regards to residence hall repairs. Cleaning Services Supervisor Ruben Campos said he was not aware of any outstanding problems, but that it is generally the responsibility of the AC to inform facilities of the problem. This problem had been occurring throughout middle and upper campus. “Due to some ITS issues the [work request] forms were not being properly forwarded,” Baker said.
In response to questions regarding housing next year, Baker said that there will still be triples despite the increase in available rooms, but the number of triples will decrease. Next year, first-years will be housed in Braun, Stewie, Bell-Young and part of Pauley. Baker also denied rumors that the new residence hall is behind schedule. “It is scheduled to open on time,” Baker said.
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