• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Columbia College Chicago Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago Columbia Chronicle College Publications 2-24-1997 Columbia Chronicle (02/24/1997) Columbia College Chicago Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/cadc_chronicle Part of the Journalism Studies Commons This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Columbia College Chicago, "Columbia Chronicle (02/24/1997)" (February 24, 1997). Columbia Chronicle, College Publications, College Archives & Special Collections, Columbia College Chicago. http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/cadc_chronicle/374 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. It has been accepted for inclusion in Columbia Chronicle by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. THE CHQONICLE 0 f CO LUMB COLLEGE c tl C A C 0 VOL. XXX, No. 17 February 24, 1997 Fin. Aid: Serving th·emselves or others? A Chronicle investigation uncovers alleged drinking on the job in Financial Aid Department By Bob Chiarito sponsored by the College when able for e verybody, lnve.uixative Editor students are present." but most of the time According to the anonymous during that hour she After a two week investiga­ sources and Stevenson, every tells us not to send any tion, the Chronicle has learned of aspect of Columbia's alcohol pol­ students back." As a allegations that Columbia icy was violated. result, the work aides College staff members drank Stevenson, who worked in the often answered stu­ alcohol on campus during busi­ Financial Aid office from dents' questions. ness hours on numerous occa­ November I 996 to February Accordin g to the sions this school year. The allega­ I 997 and is currently the anonymous Financial tions involve Financial Aid advi­ Chronicle's opinion editor, said Aid advisor, work sor Diane Brazier, receptionist that he was shocked the first time aides are hired fo r Marlita Davis and work aide he witnessed the drinking. "I helping to manage the Shermeen Pendry, who is under­ went in the Financial Aid Office office and are not age. before I started working there and qualified to help stu­ The allegations were made by Davis was at the desk with beer dents wi th anything a Financial Aid Department work in a coffee mug," he said. "I saw more than basic finan­ aide, who wishes to remain it and made a joke about it. I cial aid questions. anonymous, former Financial asked her if it was her [urine] "It 's not their position Aid Department work aide sample and she frowned and said to be giving out infor­ Robert Stevenson and mation about financial Financial Aid aid," she said. ''They who also wishes to don't have the years remain anonymous. of experience." They each all ege that Brazier responded when Brazier, Davis to the allegations by and I 9 year-old Pendry saying they are untrue drank, they drank in and that she doesn't Brazier's office drink. " It is document­ Photo by Lisa Mendez between the hours of 5 ed that I cannot drink About half of Columbia's students currently receive some form of Finacial and 6 p.m., at which because of a medical Aid, including loans and scholarships. ti me the Financial Aid problem." Brazier office closes. refused to comment ing continued. their al legati ons sooner. This is the first time further about her medical prob­ Wolfe refused to comment. Both Asst. Provost Debra Brazier, Davis and Pendry have no." lem, but when asked if she was When asked about the allega­ McGrath and Columbia Counsel been accused of wrong-doing and When asked about the allega­ angry about being accused, she tions, Director of Financial Aid Darryl Jones confirmed that the all three categorically deny the tions, Davis said, "I have not said, "No, because I have nothing John Olino said that he was not investigation is ongoing. allegations. drank [on campus]. The allega­ to worry about." aware of the on-job-drinking and The anonymous Financial Aid The two anonymous sources tions are untrue and there is no Pendry echoed Brazier's com­ that he and the administration advisor said she would like to see requested to remain anonymous proof that it happened." ments, saying she has nothing to would be investigating the situa­ something done fo r the sake of because they fear ramifications The anonymous financial aid worry about and that the allega­ tion immediately. students and the other Financial for bringing the allegations to the advisor said she's witnessed the tions are "not true at all." "It will take as long as I need, Aid workers. "I' m there to ser­ Chronicle first. All three of the drinking "at least three times" Although the anonymous but it will not be a long, drawn­ vice students and I care about my accusers also said that they took and that Brazier, Davis and sources and Stevenson didn't a u t students and their allegations to the Chronicle Pendry have gotten less fearful take their allegations to process," about getting because they feared that about it each time it's occurred. Columbia administrators, on one he said. their work done. Columbia admini strators would "The first time I walked into the occasion the work aide did As of See editorial I know that other be slow to respond and that they office, they shoved everything inform one of his superiors. After late last Financial Aid were frustrated with the actions under the desk," she said. 'The allegedly wi tnessing Brazier, week, page 7 Advisors care of Brazier, Davis and Pendry. second time, they had it out in the Davis and Pendry drinking Jan. Olino had about what's Columbia's policy on alcohol open. They had a 40 ounce bottle 13, the work aide informed his gathered going on," she states that "faculty, administra­ of beer and were drinking out of superior, Financial Aid Computer statements but refused to specu­ said. "This makes all of the tion, and staff are strictly prohib­ coffee cups." Coordinator Charles Wolfe. "He late on a course of action. He did Financial Aid staff look bad. I'm ited from consuming, serving, or The anonymous work aide said he'd take care of it and that it say that if the allegations prove to tired of looking bad when I know allowing students to consume or added, "All the advisors work 9 didn't have to go any further," the be true, he would not be a "happy I go in everyday and bust my serve alcoholic beverages on to 5 p.m. except for Brazier, who work aide source said. camper." As for the accusers, butt. If it were up to me, I'd fi re College premises and at events, works 10 to 6 p.m. From 5 to 6 According to the anonymous Olino said he's disappointed that them. It's obvious insubordina­ meetings or informal gatherings p.m. she's supposed to be avail- sources and Stevenson, the drink- they didn't come to him with tion, no ifs, ands or buts." Evaluating instructors: Does system work? By Paul Zabrantanski someone other than the teacher. When finished, Staff Writer they are sealed and sent to be scored. The tabulated results are then sent back to the departments for When it comes to teacher evaluati ons, the stu­ review. Some students feel that this process isn't dent consensus around Columbia is that they are a effective enough in protecting the confidentiality of complete nuisance and waste of their answers. time. "I don't even take the time to A student wrote the Chronicle in fi ll out the evaluations because December to say that a teacher a) Jegcd­ nothing is going to be done about it Jy came hack into the class. after the stu­ anyway." stated Bob Santore, a dents had fi lled out the surveys, and junior television student. Santore "berated" the students for some negative continued, "Even if something is comments that a few class members had done, I'm not going to be in that made. class anymore, so it's not going to Columbi a students seem to give ort effect me." the general attitude that the evaluations Nicla Ruccia, a broadcast jour­ are insignificant. Many faculty and nalism senior, couldn' t agree more. administration members claim that they Even though she puts in an effort to rely on the information contributed by fill the surveys out, Ruccia says, the students to better themselves and "From my experience, I' ll talk to thei r tcchni4ucs. other students before I register for "The evaluations arc definitely my classes to see what the teacher important, to the extent that they give is like, and every time I was warned that the teacher feedback for what is being done right and what is did poorly, they continued to do poorly when I was being done wrong," said Joe Nowak, pan-time in the class." Academic Computing instructor since 1985. The evaluations are originall y sent from the Nowak hopes that more specific information can be Academic Dean's office to all of the department heads. They are then handed out to the students by See Evaluating, next page 2 NEWS THE CHRONICLE Journalism Department 623 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 802 Chicago, Illinois 60605 News desk: (312) 663-1600 Ext. 53-13 Photo desk: (312) 663-1600 Ext. 5732 Ad\'ertising desk: (312) 663-1600 Ext. 5-132 FAX: (312) 427-3920 e-mail: Chron96@ interaccess.com Web page: http://wwwS.interaccess.

Load more

  13

Copy Link