Cabrini College

Dear Cabrini College Student, Cabrini College has grown inaeasingly popular over the years and more students than ever before att deciding to pursue their education at 610 King of Prus&a Road. In addition, over 85% of our undergraduate population has requestedresidentialhousing over the past two years. as opposed to the~ who requestedon-am.pus housing in earlieryears. Although there is such a high demand for on-campus housing, there is limited residential spaceavailable on a 110-ilcrecampus. For these reasons, theCollegeinitiated a policy two years ago that on-campus housing would no longer be guaranteed for a student's four-year tenure at Cabrini College. •

It has come to my attention through personal conversations with many of you, as well as through discussions with the of my staff, that this policyhas caused great confusion on our campus. I wish to alleviate your fears; Cabrini College will provide housing for all upperclass students who currently reside on campus and who wish to reside on campus next year. Deposits must be recaved no later then the deadline of March31, 2000, in order to secure thesehousing slots. Next year, howevtt, will be the last year that housing will be guaranteed. This decision will not alleviate ow cramped residential quarters, but your desire to live on campus has been heard.

You should know that the College feels stronglythat upperclass students should have opportunities for independent living experiences, in order to examine the challenges oflife fully. Therefore, the College will provide a one-time, $2000incentive to those current Cabrini College resident students who wish to pUBue such an enriching option. Please be advised that you must inform the resident life officeof your intent by March31, 2000, in order to receive the $2000 incentive.

I would also like to offer an alternative option for our education majors, in lieu of our $2000 incentive. Rising Cabrini CoUegeresident juniors and seniors interested in taking advantage of this particular alternative will receive four free graduate education courses, which can be applied toward a master of education degree at the College. Rising resident seniors who wish to accept this offer will have until the end of the calendar year 2004 to complete their four free graduate education courses. Rising resident juniors will have until the end of the calendar year 2005 to complete their four free graduate education courses. You must inform the resident life office by March 31, 2000, if you wish to benefit from this opportunity.

These decisions have been made in the context of an environment that stimulates intellectual thought, respects diverse opinions and works to uphold the common good. I hope you know that our commitment to our students is unwavering; our dedication to ensure the fubµ'e of Cabrini Collegeis sincere.

Conlially,

Dr.Antoinette Iadarola President

Thank God, the fight is over. The climate on this campus over the past few weeks has grown increasingly hostile, and unfortunately many students have come to question why they came here in the first place. But now, it looks like things may return to normal, whatever that is.

The administration finally did the right thing, and we are all grateful. As much as we complain about now seemingly insignificant things like triple rooms and residence policies, it is good that we will get to finish what we started, our lives as resident students of Cabrini College.

The truly regrettable thing about all this is how this decision was finally reached. The students got the spots rightfully theirs after having to put up a fight. Just as last year, the seniors got to graduate where they wanted to after putting up a fight.

All this hostility and fighting could be avoided in the future by just consulting the student body before major decisions regarding our lives are made. That is what the Student Government Association is here for. Does "communication between students and administration" ring a bell?

The upper administration has had a long term habit of asking forgiveness, not permission. It seems that our voices are only heard after the threats of picketing, protests and even lawsuits. Of course it's true that no college could ever really be run by students, but some take their student body's voice more seriously than others. Cabrini College claims to be one of these. We can all remember entering this school as a small college where you won't be "just a number." What are the students to believe now, after their residency was almost decided by percentages established with ahusiness frame of mind?

The best way to "uphold the common good," as Iadarola claims to want to do, would be to simply ask the common people. There is still a tangible mistrust of those who make the decisions for this college. This mistrust could be alleviated in a few simple steps. One, reinstate the Student Housing Committee. The disbanding of this group was an early sign that things weren't going to go well. Second, listen to the Student Government Association when they have something to say. They are the elected representatives of the student body; they are where they are for a reason. And finally, listen to your own employees, and not just the ones who work in the mansion. It is hard to get a feel for a campus from upstairs in a century-old building.

Again, we would like to restate that we are grateful that this "confusion" has finally and satisfactorily been resolved. It's just too bad we had to get ugly to be heard.

We, the students are nice people, too. Get to know us.