The Rotunda Volume 81, Number 5
Waiting for Candy and Cavities Since 1920
November 2,2001
Housing Addresses Student Questions and Concerns KRISTIN HELMSTETTER Staff Writer With enrollment steadily increasing, a main concern of many is housing. Where are all of these students going to live? What problems are the Residence Education and Housing (REH) staff facing? What are the major concerns of the students? Transitional housing is unavoidable with the amount of students pouring into the college each year. Starting the school year short of rooms, due to the
April 24* fire, left the housing office to make living arrangements for many students, particularly freshman. Mike Clements, the Director of Housing, was concerned that REH was not "utilizing space properly" and realized the largest rooms were located in ARC-Academic Residence Community. Some two-person rooms in Arc are 236 square feet, while some two-person rooms in other dorms are only 110 square feet. Therefore, several rooms in ARC, particularly in the base-
ment, were turned into three-person rooms. This decision was based partly on a housing concern in dorms such as French, where four-person rooms were turned into five-person rooms. This resulted in ten people sharing one bathroom. REH wanted to reduce the impact on the suite by minimizing the occupancies by one each, leaving eight people to a suite. Mr. Clements commented on how the needs for students has changed over the years and that
some dorms were built in the early 1900s, while others were built 80 years later. Students have more items to bring to college, such as stereos, computers, and other electronic equipment. The rooms in ARC are "large and internet ready," according to Clements. Housing even ordered furniture that would use up less floor space. Therefore, ARC seemed the obvious place to start transitional housing. Housing distinguishes between permanent and temporary
three-person rooms by the room size. In ARC, if a room is 236 square feet it is a permanent threeperson occupancy while 230 square feet and under is transitional three-person housing. Housing notified the students in transitional housing that if they were not moved by October, they would be getting a $300 refund. One case has arisen in ARC where three people live in a three
See HOUSING p.10
Take Back The Night Victors Share Stories, Tears, and Emotion MEG WOOLDRIDGE Entertainment Editor "I lost my virginity by rape." "It is something I have to face everyday." "My stepfather sexually abused me." ""I have lost almost all my faith in people." "I haven"t told anyone this before." "My mother didn't believe me." "If you said no. it was rape." These powerful statements were spoken by many young women who stood up and spoke during this year's "Take back the Night"on October 30 in the Grand Ballroom of the Dining Hall. The entire ballroom was packed with people who solemnly watched brave students speak of their experience. Upon arrival, the audience was handed a program and a piece of paper containing chants against rape and sexual assault. Refreshments were served and there was a display of t-shirts from all the years the program has been running. They were made by and for those students victimized by sexual assault. The evening began with a speech by Lisa Hicks Thomas, the Assistant Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia. She spoke of the legal proceedings when it came to sexual assault and rape. She said that a victim of crime has a right to take the alleged person to court as well the right to know about the case and the possible appeal afterwards.
Thomas informed the audience that there is a website for the National Center for Victims of Crime (http//www.ncvc.com). She also commended the
demonstrate tonight has truly transformed you, in my mind, from victims to victors." A poem entitled "A Dusty Night" was then read and fol-
She explained that when she was 15, she had moved to a new high school and met a sweet guy at her friend's birthday party. This boy would turn into
On senior skip day, he became very drunk and innocently led her to his room where he locked the door. "I screamed for anyone *ho could hear me," she said. "No one heard me. No one came. I lost my virginity by rape. I want everyone in this cafeteria to know that this was wrong. This should not happen. No matter what happens, it is not your fault." The poem "Rape is Violence" was then read and another student came forth with her story. Returning from last year, this student read her extremely moving poem, "The Coldest Day in June." Through tears, the young woman described the difficulty of coming to grips with rape and that it "is not something that is ever easy to talk about," she said. She received a standing ovation. So did the following young woman who sang an emotional gospel-style rendition of the song Hero. The next speaker briefly described her three-year relationship with her boyfriend. There These two Longwood students view the Central Virginia Clothesline Project, on campus one day recently, were rumors that he was cheating on her and she had even in which 165 T-shirts "bear witness " to the survivors and victims of domestic violence against women. woken up during the night to find The Women's Studies program and a student organization called Women Involved in Lerning and him having sex with her. Leadership (WILL) coordinated the display at Longwood. After breaking up for two lowed by the song The Rose, sung her first kiss and her first boymonths and then getting back toevening's speakers. by Amber Gallob. gether, she found out she was friend. "I congratulate Longwood The first story was that of a For two months, the rela- pregnant. for this Take Back the Night Program," said Thomas. "For those sophomore sorority member who tionship was perfect until he who talk tonight, you have my came on stage with four sisters for started to become short-tempered See NIGHT p. 10 and threatened her with names. utmost respect. The courage you support.