Student
Voices Her Approval For Lassens Character
To
the Editors:
I
am writing to you on behalf of my friend, Father Fred Lassen. I
have not been able to participate in the campus discussions as of
yet regarding his position, but I was immediately perturbed when
I was informed of the proposed halving of his position. Not only
is he a good chaplain and resource for students of the Christian
faith, he is a wonderfully open-minded, intellectual individual
and a friend to numerous students, regardless of faith or creed
or personal belief. Apparently the College is going through some
financial difficulty, and certain measures must be taken, but there
are still many students who pay quite a lot of money to go here,
and the diversity of their campus experience should not have to
be compromised in this way, and that includes the proposed intern
positition cuts in the Theater department and the MRC as well. It
would seem that the trend is rapidly moving towards a certain bleakness
and monotony of campus life. Is this what Oberlin is all about?
I dont think I need to answer that question. But Fr. Lassens
job is not even an intern position. It is his livelihood,
and it is obvious that he is dedicated wholeheartedly to the students
of this campus, through his involvement in the organization of religious
life and by his constant willingness to help in any small way, even
if it is simply to engage in an important conversation. (However,
he usually will help more than that, going far beyond the call of
duty or expectation.) Certainly not every student will be able to
connect with him on a religious level, but he is willing and able
to connect with anyone at all on a personal level, and this kind
of spirituality and openness of heart is something that this school
should hold on to, and not diminish in any way. I think Dan Greenbaum
said it pretty well in the April 26 article when he said People
are more important than buildings. The real poverty of the
college would be in compromising themselves on Father Lassens
position here, and not in the relatively small and ultimately
transitory amount of money they would save by doing so.
Lauren Maurand
College senior
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