Students divided in reaction to resignation

Cole-Newkirk commended as source of support; others criticize her tenure

Students who aren't holed up in Mudd studying for mid-terms are reacting strongly to the resignation of Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk. Opinions run the gamut. Many students, however, professed not to have any opinion at all.

Several students who were asked for their reaction to Cole-Newkirk's departure refused to comment on the situation.

"I felt really ignorant for a while, which is why I went last night," said sophomore Jibrail Nor of his decision to attend the meeting with College President Nancy Dye at Afrikan Heritage House Tuesday night. (see related story, page 1)

"The question 'why' Cole-Newkirk resigned was never answered, for reasons that seemed like bullshit," he said.

Nor is also afraid that other minority staffers will resign. He feels Cole-Newkirk wasn't completely innocent, but that there is no right or wrong in this situation.

Senior Andrea Clarke was suspicious, she said, about Cole-Newkirk's resignation. "It was sudden and unexpected, because she had been making plans for the year with Abusua on Friday afternoon and her resignation was effective Monday. If there is a lack of support of black administrators, it sends a message to African-Americans on this campus - what should make us think they give a damn about us?" she said.

Clarke noted numerous changes Cole-Newkirk instituted in the Multicultural Resource Center which made the organization more effective, with a clearer definition of purpose.

Sophomore Rashida Bumbray said she felt Cole-Newkirk's resignation was "a demonstration of the fact that this school isn't truly dedicated to the well-being of students of color."

Bumbray feels that the history celebrated in Follow the Morning Star, a video distributed to African-American students which discusses the precedent Oberlin set of accepting students regardless of race, isn't important to the school.

Bumray also noted the timing of the resignation. "The administration is trying to be slick doing stuff over the summer and during exam week when we don't have time to pay attention - but we have to," Bumbray said.

Other students are not as upset at Cole-Newkirk's departure. Adrian Aveni-Deforge, OC '97, said he was glad Cole-Newkirk resigned.

"Since Cole's been here, there's been a lot of tightening up - Oberlin's going in a bad direction," he said.

Aveni-Deforge said he thinks some of the restrictions placed on Student Life since Cole has been Dean have also dampened Oberlin Student Co-operative Association's (OSCA) spirit.

In the four years he was a student here, Aveni-Deforge has seen what he feels are "drastic changes."

"Cole's presence has taken away some of the playful spirit of the campus," he said. "The uniqueness of the Oberlin perspective is that it doesn't follow the mainstream." He feels many "flag-bearing rituals" on the Oberlin campus, such as the drum circles in Tappan Square, don't happen any more.

Senior Benjamin Selman said, "It's good she's gone. It seems to me she's had some major conflicts with the way Oberlin's run. She's angered so many groups on campus it seems appropriate she should resign at this point. The kind of attitude she displayed is hardline authoritarian - it's not going to work at a place like Oberlin," he said.

Selman hopes a capable person will succeed Cole-Newkirk. "She was run down by the conflict she's created," he said.

Senior Jessica Barker had mixed feelings on Cole-Newkirk's resignation. She wanted to know why Deb McNish was fired and why Assistant Dean of Residential Life and Services Yeworkwha Belachew, who is on leave this semester, was passed up for McNish's position.

"It's sad Cole-Newkirk got pushed out of the position because she couldn't be honest. Hopefully the search will bring someone who is interested in all groups on campus, not just specific ones," Barker said.

"I wanted answers to what had happened. I didn't necessarily want her to resign but to be honest - we need to be honest and open - and my real concern is that we can get past the big split in the student community," Barker said. "I want to look forward and see if we as a student community can make happen what's best for all of us."