A Cautionary Tale from a College Disaster: Presidential Promises

January 29, 2009 Posted in Reality

Although the President of a college or university is the top administrator in charge (on campus – the Board of Trustee’s usually has equal power, in general), they are usually the last person to hear about a problem.

By Charlsie

Proper protocol is usually required to get to the bottom of a situation. Sometimes you have to start with an RA or the Dean of Students; each issue has its own designated driver to get to the bottom of what’s going on. However, when you reach the end of the line and nothing is solved, going past the usual set of rules and skipping to the top becomes the only option if you want action!

After going all freshman year without much success from the Dean of Students and the Housing and Residence Life, my mom and I decided to set some time aside to schedule a meeting with the President of my university in hopes to get everything sorted out. Eager to put an end to the continual issues that beleaguered me throughout my first two semesters in college, I expected results and an apology from my university’s president.

Before going into the meeting I compiled a list of all the things that happened and how they were handled. I remember looking down at the list as we walked into her large office thinking that it really was one thing too many. As my mother and I spoke openly about my experience at Hollins and the issues that I have seen on campus such as bullying, harassment, and the roommate debacle I survived, President Gray (a very cheerful, articulate, and warm woman) sat across from us with a look of disbelief on her face. In telling her about the botched responsibilities of the Student Life administration, she spoke about not knowing these issues beset her campus. Apologizing for the terrible experience I have had on the campus, President Gray looked forward to making my university a better place with input on how to improve.

Working through the main issues my mom and I brought up, President Gray thought of ideas to help take preventative measures for other students on campus. For example, she came up with the idea of putting peep-holes in every first-years’ door, so they could look out and see who was at their door. I thought it was a great idea because maybe if I heard someone outside my door when words like bitch and whore were slewed in erasable markers on my whiteboard, I could have caught them.

She thought of implementing a bullying policy into the 2007-2008 student handbook, which I thought would help the administration define in better terms what bullying actually is. And to help me feel safe and calm in my living situation for my sophomore year, President Gray promised me that I would not have to live in the first year dorm again (which was where I was placed in a single due to a shortage of singles in upperclassmen housing) and that some type of housing compensation would occur for the price distinction of living with a roommate and on my own, in a single.

Leaving the meeting with her, I finally felt relief.

Fall 2007 rolled around, and it was time to go back to school. And then it became clear – all promises were off. Suddenly, the school had no available single for me in any building except the building President Gray agreed with my mom that I should not live in again. The only option was for me to live in a double room, as a single. However, the university decided that if I did that, they would not pay damages of lasts years woes in the form of a single room, like they formerly planned to do. When inquiring about this with the president, she said via e-mail that she didn’t remember deciding I would live elsewhere than the single I reserved in the first year dorm, in the first place.

Just as all these promises seemed to not be carried out, the president herself seemed to vanish off into the sunset for a week or two long vacation. Leaving me with the option of living in the overly expensive double as a single, I moved into my dorm early to help out with first year orientation (expect a story next week about this orientation) feeling cheated, ignored, and taken as a joke yet again by Hollins and its administration. After dishing out an extra $1,000+ or so, after I was told I wouldn’t have to, I couldn’t help but feel lied to … especially when I ran into the President during freshman orientation and she asked if I was pleased with the start of my sophomore year at Hollins. Seriously…give me a break!

Although she can talk the talk of being a professionally polished president, she failed at keeping her word. Disenchanted yet again by the university I chose to attend, I felt like I had nowhere to turn. If the President will listen, but not act or take her own promise earnestly – who will?

Just because the president doesn’t follow through on the school’s mission statement or promise doesn’t mean your issues as a student should fall on the back burner. Everyone deserves an education worth achieving and a student life worth living, and the appreciation of this keeps me pushing through to help make my university a better place, even in spite of its substandard character traits and underhanded administration.

1637619 Comments2009-01-29+18%3A39%3A56Charlsie+-+Hollins+University on "A Cautionary Tale from a College Disaster: Presidential Promises"

Haley says:
Thu, 29th Jan 200910:25 am

I believe you meant articulate*

Charlsie - Hollins U says:
Thu, 29th Jan 200910:44 am

I believe that is correct. Thanks. I don't know how to go back in and fix this once it's been posted. Hopefully one of the lovely CollegeCandy editors can do that for me.

Matthew says:
Thu, 29th Jan 200910:50 am

once again, the conspiracy continues. record all converations to ensure people keep their word. too much? perhaps. but not keeping promises is too much too.

maddie says:
Thu, 29th Jan 200911:20 am

charlsie,

if you haven't already i would send your story to as many newspapers and outlets as possible. expose these people. they should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. and i agree with matthew, there is no such thing as paranoid for you at this point.

Charlsie - Hollins U says:
Thu, 29th Jan 200911:32 am

Matthew, I have really had to start being a little bit paranoid and nervous whenever I have to meet with administration or talk to someone on campus. Usually, when I do, I like to have a witness or have my parents on the phone. However, the school is pretty good at dealing with things at random times like 5:45pm on a Friday night when I was sick with kidney stones in my boyfriends bed 40 minutes away. That's when they want to talk. I recommend that if you have a meeting and notes are taken, ask for a copy of those notes immediately. Or just don't talk to anyone unless a witness is present.

Anonymous, I could write a months worth of columns concerning the judicial system at Hollins and an appalling piece about the SGA Presidents behavior and the favoritism of her through the administration, even when she does something terrible and admits to it. This will all come out in future columns.

Maddie, I am definitely in the process of doing this. I have a feeling that once Hollins finds out about this series, they are going to be very upset and there will be a battle. Even though I believe Hollins has an amazing academic system, the administration is so flawed and I think exposing it for what it has been and still is needs to happen because other students do not need to deal with this. College Candy has been a great way for me to get feedback from other students, and I appreciate it so much.

Amanda - Reed Colleg says:
Thu, 29th Jan 20091:53 pm

while i love this column and all, i'm always horrified after i read it. i agree with maddie – send stuff to newspapers. they'll definitely pick it up. no one should have to deal with this.

beth says:
Thu, 29th Jan 20092:59 pm

You seem to have a lot of stuff happen to you, I've never heard of this kind of thing happening to anyone else.

In my opinion, you'd be better off switching schools because there is no point on attending a school where you are obviously so caught up in these kinds of issues that you probably aren't able to focus 100% on your education. Sticking it out just to prove you can is a waste of your time and money.

Anonymous says:
Thu, 29th Jan 20093:52 pm

well done. lets talk about the administrations lack of objectivity and the problems with our judicial system and favoritism towards Batten Scholars and SGA Presidents and the general, cold apathy towards the rest of us.

Jacks says:
Thu, 29th Jan 20094:51 pm

I agree with Beth. I know you've said over and over again that you won't transfer because the academics at Hollins are so good, but really, I would think that enough is enough. There are 3,000 schools in this country, and you can get just as solid of an education elsewhere, without having to deal with all the bullshit.

Jes says:
Thu, 29th Jan 20097:37 pm

damn bureaucracy!

i really hope there is a happy ending to this saga!

Charlsie - Hollins U says:
Thu, 29th Jan 200910:40 pm

Beth, I know it seems like this just happens to me because it's one personal account. However, I know many other girls at my own school who have experienced very similar incidents with the administration. My story is just one account of the things I have witnessed, and I wish more students at my university would speak up about what has happened to them and the situations they have found themselves in, especially through the administration.

Jacks, I wish leaving was easy. I am attached to my friends. My professors. The area of Roanoke. I love all of that very much. All the times I have looked into transferring, I always felt like it wasn't fair that I had to go through so much to leave. Why do I have to leave? What can't the administration take a step back and look at how they handle things or the situations that go on around the campus? After my first year, I decided to stay (especially because I became very, very, VERY involved in the campus my sophomore year – this will come out in a later piece). And I will be the first to say that was a stupid idea. I should have left. But now I am a junior with spring semester to complete and senior year to finish. It's a little late.

While I can't go back and change my mind, like I should have, I can, however, share my story so people can learn from my mistakes.

Anonymous1 says:
Fri, 30th Jan 20092:11 am

If only it were so easy as to get up and just simply transfer from Hollins, but it's not. Transferring from this school is one of the most difficult things as Hollins' credits do not transfer easily. I am one of Charlsie's peers at Hollins and I have to say, I have experienced many things like she has at this school. I have thought about transferring many times, but after looking into it, any school I chose I'd have to start compeltely over. and that's not worth wasting my parents money over. It's a shame. College is supposed to be the best 4 years of your life and for myself, Charlsie, and the few others at my school who are facing these problems as well, its definitely not turning out how we envisioned it to be.

Jacks says:
Fri, 30th Jan 20092:15 pm

Well, in that case, I definitely hope the greater media picks up this story (E-mail it EVERYWHERE) and rock on with this great and informative series.

Anonymous says:
Wed, 4th Feb 20095:32 pm

Personally, I LOVE Hollins and everyone here has been nothing but nice to me. If you didn't like it you should have considered your options of transferring. I think the excuse of it was "too" hard to transfer is b.s., sorry. If you were miserable with the things being done you should have left. And the exaggeration of saying that the administration is not listening to you, I think is made up. I understand people can say things that they forget, but I dont think anyone is here to put you down and tell you that you are wrong. Saying that you "can't" leave because of your friend and the fact that you ARE so involved in the campus, then you must actually LIKE the school and as much as you are DISSING Hollins on these blogs, I think it is wrong because Hollins is a great place and I think you are giving people the wrong idea of Hollins. Not everyone is complaining about Hollins and people should know the GOOD parts and not just your personal BAD experiences. Why don't you write a blog about the GOOD that Hollins does, instead of dissing your own college that you attend. Doing that makes you look dumb for NOT leaving. I understand you said you are staying for Hollins academics but there are PLENTY of other schools with great academic programs, not just Hollins.

I'm sorry that you've had those bitchy things done because that is not fair and no one should be bullied. I used to be and it sucked and now I'm a better person because I would NEVER do that to someone.

Rev says:
Fri, 6th Feb 20093:58 pm

i think charlsie is just sharing her story, whether it be good or bad, so students will be aware of what decisions the administration makes and how it influences students…not to diss her school. this is SO informal because im sure this happens at other schools and students will now pay more attention to what the adinistration does. she obviously loves hollins enough to stay there..so there are obviously good stories to tell…but what fun are they to read? we know all about fun times in college.

iF yoU SEEK AMY says:
Fri, 6th Feb 20094:17 pm

Amen to that Rev.

iF yoU SEEK AMY says:
Fri, 6th Feb 20094:18 pm

Rev,

let's be BEST FRIENDS.

Anonymous says:
Fri, 6th Feb 20098:45 pm

"No one at Hollins has ever been mean to you?

Consider that not true anymore."

wowwwww. mature.

i'm not looking for you to fight me on this.. i'm just making a comment and you go and cut things out of my comment… you got lots of time on your hands for saying that you're SOOO busy trying to transfer out.

i can say what i want without you getting in my face. thanks for not liking me for not knowing anything about me.

and no shit, not everything is rainbows and unicorns… did i say that? i think not.

so, i'll deal with Charlsie's comment and you deal with mine. so yes, we all have our comments. but no need to come after me for making an opinion back.

iF yoU SEEK AMY says:
Fri, 6th Feb 20099:12 pm

To Anonymous Hollins student,

Good for you that you like Hollins. Congrats. Some people like it here, some don’t. And that’s fine. But respect people who don’t like it, and their reasons, OKAY. THANKS.

“I think the excuse of it was “too” hard to transfer is b.s., sorry.”

Well well. Transferring is really fucking difficult. I’m trying to transfer out of Hollins myself right now, and it is the most stressful experience of my life. I’ve decided to major in something that isn’t offered here, so I have to leave. And balancing my personal career goals and interests, what Hollins wants to shove down my throat, plus college apps is a total nightmare. Faculty and my advisor here want me to stay, but instead of admitting they’re sad to see me leave but want what’s best, they’re putting up barriers and making transferring damn near impossible. You’d think my advisor would want my best interests at heart, but I’m getting passive aggressive bullshit that’s come pretty close to destroying me.

“And the exaggeration of saying that the administration is not listening to you, I think is made up. ”

Wow. I can’t even come up with a response to this absurdity. She’s come up with countless examples.

“Saying that you “can’t” leave because of your friend and the fact that you ARE so involved in the campus, then you must actually LIKE the school and as much as you are DISSING Hollins on these blogs,”

then you later say…

“Why don’t you write a blog about the GOOD that Hollins does, instead of dissing your own college that you attend.”

Umm…

Didn’t you admit she’s written GOOD THINGS?!

I think so.

Okay, so she hasn’t written a blog completely about good things at Hollins. And obviously her feelings about Hollins aren’t all negative, as you just admitted. But why write a blog that’s just all rainbows and unicorns? Pointless. Charlsie is clearly an intelligent girl, and her purpose in writing these things is to cause change, progress, and educate others. If you want to read some all warm and fuzzy shit about how Hollins is a utopia, go to

http://www.hollins.edu

Grow up. Hollins is not a perfect place. Stop watching Disney movies, and take a look at the real world.

No one at Hollins has ever been mean to you?

Consider that not true anymore.

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