University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Deans Ask More Involvement

Ed.)

Dear Sir:

The announcement of the
proposed changes in the
resident staff program,
published in The Cavalier Daily
on February 8, has brought
much salutary discussion about
the merits of the present
system and the possibilities of
improving it. The dormitory
counseling program has been
successful, based upon an
extensive selection system,
staffed by energetic students,
and supported by several
University offices, it has added
greatly to the life-both social
and academic-of our students.
We do not see the system as
sacrosanct, but we urge full
consultations in any proposed
changes to it.

We in the Office of the
Dean of the College are
particularly concerned about
how the proposed changes fit
the necessary academic
advising that we see ourselves
charged with. More and more
we have come to rely upon the
good service of dormitory
counselors and resident
advisers in a very important
aspect-but not the only
one-of a student's life here.
The "Resident Staff Program"
recently proposed is nearly
silent on academic matters:
only under "Head
Resident"-and then under
"Typical Responsibilities"-do
we find a reference that they
act as liaison. And the Resident
Staff Coordinators do not seem
to be expected to furnish
academic advice, although they
will most likely be graduate
students in Arts and Sciences
who could easily so qualify.

Such an omission has caused
us much serious exploration in
this office of how we might fit
into a program that is designed
to fulfill the social and
academic needs of a student.
Seldom is one's social existence
in the dormitories divorced
from matters academic, and
the end result, both of the
labors of the Office of Student
Affairs and ours, is to furnish
good, accurate, and total
advice. And thus for a few
weeks now we have been
asking ourselves what our role
is in the program now
proposed.

The proposal has shown us
that, despite a great deal that
we think we have provided in
academic advising, we might
happily anticipate doing even
more. We have a number of
suggestions about the way the
residents might open us to
more opportunities to
participate more thoroughly in
dormitory programs, how more
effective liaison between your
office and ours can be
established, and how we might
break down any isolating
barriers between Cabell Hall
and Dabney House.

We urge, therefore, until a
wider consultation has been
made, until we have more
advice, gripes, compliments,
and facts on which to build,
until we have made more
efforts to bring about a
program that will encompass
both the social and the
academic life, that the
implementation of the program
be delayed for a definitely
stated time. Recognizing how
much good has been proposed,
we hope that we will not
sacrifice other goods; without
further serious consideration
by a larger number of