Spring Break
Deans present StuCo with vision for Homewood '07-'08
Topics for discussion include campus diversity, study abroad, free speech, student health care services, community outreach
Issue date: 9/13/07
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Dean of Student Life Susan Boswell and Paula Burger, dean of Undergraduate Education for the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, presented their visions for the future of the University, commenting on community outreach programs, recent developments in the study abroad program, and ongoing policy changes and initiatives at the Student Council (StuCo) retreat earlier this month.
A major focus of the discussion involved how the University strengthen diversity and connection to the Baltimore community, issues brought to light in part by fallout from last year's "Halloween in the 'Hood" incident.
"We're all willing to do right by this. Everyone is well-intentioned, but we're unsure of how to get things done," Burger said. She noted that the University has begun developing models of diversity training for all staff, faculty and students, and that "a commission will be looking into making the environment more inclusive."
Burger also addressed the issue of free speech, calling worries about the censorship of students, "a concern that should be heard. A university that does not protect the right to an opinion is intellectually bankrupt. On the other hand, we need and environment where people are respectful of others."
"We're having conversations about student attitudes towards Baltimore," Burger, who expressed the idea of creating a week-long program for freshmen to be held at the end of intersession, said. The program would involve classroom education that would connect to trips into the city, such as a class on urban education with visits to local schools. Burger hoped the program would help freshmen to "get out in Baltimore, explore and expose issues and bond the class together."
Burger praised Community Liaison Carrie Bennett for helping to improve community relations, but added that coexistence is always strained.
"For all the good will we've built up, we lose a lot of it on the first weekend. To have the first e-mail from the community be an angry neighbor irate over someone peeing on their front yard - that's very disheartening," she said.
A major focus of the discussion involved how the University strengthen diversity and connection to the Baltimore community, issues brought to light in part by fallout from last year's "Halloween in the 'Hood" incident.
"We're all willing to do right by this. Everyone is well-intentioned, but we're unsure of how to get things done," Burger said. She noted that the University has begun developing models of diversity training for all staff, faculty and students, and that "a commission will be looking into making the environment more inclusive."
Burger also addressed the issue of free speech, calling worries about the censorship of students, "a concern that should be heard. A university that does not protect the right to an opinion is intellectually bankrupt. On the other hand, we need and environment where people are respectful of others."
"We're having conversations about student attitudes towards Baltimore," Burger, who expressed the idea of creating a week-long program for freshmen to be held at the end of intersession, said. The program would involve classroom education that would connect to trips into the city, such as a class on urban education with visits to local schools. Burger hoped the program would help freshmen to "get out in Baltimore, explore and expose issues and bond the class together."
Burger praised Community Liaison Carrie Bennett for helping to improve community relations, but added that coexistence is always strained.
"For all the good will we've built up, we lose a lot of it on the first weekend. To have the first e-mail from the community be an angry neighbor irate over someone peeing on their front yard - that's very disheartening," she said.
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