Off Campus Coalition Gives Voice to Student Concerns

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Author: Michael Darling

The Off Campus Student Coalition discussed its goals and debated the future structure of the organization at its second meeting last Tuesday. The newly formed organization, which was formed by ASOC President Andrew DeBlock and had its first meeting on Oct. 27, is working to provide a constructive outlet for off-campus students frustrated over administrative policies affecting off-campus living.

The main goals of the coalition are to give students a role in shaping off-campus policies and to improve relations between students and their off-campus neighbors. Other goals include creating a better relationship with Campus Safety and educating underclass students about party behavior. At the meeting, the coalition formed sub-groups focusing on neighborhood outreach, administration outreach and campus education.

“I think it is important that we educate first-years about party etiquette on campus and off so that we don’t have students trashing other students’ off-campus residencies or our neighbor’s yards, streets, et cetera,” said Mike Donovan (senior), part of the neighborhood outreach effort.

Moving forward, the coalition is looking to create a code of conduct for off-campus houses, give letters to neighbors with student house owners’ contact information and potentially survey Eagle Rock neighbors about what can be done to improve their relationship with students. One meeting attendee suggested that the coalition host a neighborhood block party or meet-and-greet that would make the community feel more welcome.

Kayt Fitzmorris (senior) said that students need a personal relationship with Campus Safety, something that has been lacking since the retirement of Sgt. Carlos Rodriquez last year. “I recognize a different feeling between students and [Campus Safety] now, and I think we lost something great when Carlos retired. It seems to have changed the climate at Oxy,” said Fitzmorris.

As the meeting came to a close, debate began about how best to give this group power within the organizational structure of Oxy. DeBlock said the group should be institutionalized and made a part of the ASOC. This way, he said, the group would exist after the current members graduate.

However, not all students agreed with this idea. Some students have raised the point that becoming institutionalized might cause the group to fall under Oxy administrators who could curtail the group’s ability to advocate change.

Other students, like John Ryan Ferguson (junior), disagreed and said that becoming an institution would give the group more legitimacy. “I think that too often we have great ideas, but they fall by the wayside. If we can develop an organization with some power and a clear direction, then we might be on to something here.” The meeting concluded with this issue still up for debate.

DeBlock said that he created the organization in response to student concerns and aimed to see what student interest was. “My role is to be an organizer,” said DeBlock. He also said that there was a need to institutionalize, as a long term project would have more strength. “The administration usually waits these things out,” he said.

DeBlock also expressed a desire to recruit members from the on-campus population who would be interested in moving off campus in the future. “If you’re interested, talk to us now. Students will come into [living off campus] with an understanding,” said DeBlock.

The next meeting of the Off Campus Student Coalition will be held Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. in Fowler 112. If you are interested in the group, contact Andrew DeBlock at adeblock@oxy.edu.

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