Roger Williams University DOCS@RWU Hawk's Eye Student Publications 11-3-2000 Hawk's Eye -- November 3, 2000 Roger Williams University Follow this and additional works at: http://docs.rwu.edu/hawk_eye Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Roger Williams University, "Hawk's Eye -- November 3, 2000" (2000). Hawk's Eye. Paper 18. http://docs.rwu.edu/hawk_eye/18 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Publications at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Hawk's Eye by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Roger Williams University Student Newspaper Volume 11 Issue 2 November 3, 2000 Only one African-American professor, despite recent·hirings By Ashley lasiello a very young university and a rural uni­ Contributing Writer versity. These facts make the 'problem' "I wanted everyone, more difficult to solve." especially the new The annual end-of-summ er The search process is not as simple as faculty meeting provides a chance for people may think. " It is illegal to ask faculty, to know the entire faculty to meet, including on an application if a person is black, people who had been hired over the handicapped or if they plan on getting that things are not summer. Everyone was introduced but pregnant. The law doesn't allow us to perfect at RWU. I therewas no question and answer peri­ do that," explains Shelton. "I believe od. Ben Carr, the only African­ that we should be aggressive in hiring saw that with all American professor at Roger Williams African-Americans. We can't force it the new hires I still University, saw that with all the new though. However it is in our practice to hires he still remained the only African­ 'hi ghlight' the fact that we are seeking remain the only American professor. He was beyond candidates who are minorities but not upset and wanted to speak his mind. specifically African-American." African-American Carr rose from his seat and rushed "Roger Williams University is interest­ professor at RWU." toward the podium to say something ed in diversity. In the past thirty years that had been on his mind the entire we havemade progress as far as women -Ben Carr, professor are concemed," says Shelton,"when I meeting. at all and he's responsible for taking Carr explains, "Someone at first 'came here there were not very many women at all. Now the faculty is action. The body goes where the head the meeting said something about how goes, just like we go where the admin­ almost prerty even. Since the universi­ this university seems so beautiful and istrators go. When Santoro was presi­ ty is so young, we are only in the begin­ perfect. I wanted eve'10ne, especially dent he could have changed this situa­ ning stages ofdiversifying the campus. all the new faculty, to know that things tion if he really wanted to." Carr has Hiring African-Americans just hasn't are not perfect at RWU. I saw that with also had to deal with some trials of his been a priority in the past. Another all the new hires I still remained the own. "The ACT committee was shut thing is the fact that there is a small only African-American professor at . down this year. President Hagan said number, of African-Americans who RWU." that it was just not needed anymore. receive their Ph.D.'s. From that small People may wonder why Roger Did you know that one ofthe issues we number we have to compete with larger Williams Universiry only has one dealt with was the lack of African­ institutions to get them. By the time we African-American professor. The Americans on this campus? By shut­ havea chanceto possibly hiresomeone, answer is not simple enough to state in ting they are telling that the they are already taken. Constructively us down us one sentence. There are many aspects problem is solved." and contextually we are working to this issue; Loretta Shelton, Diane Diane Comisky, who is a professor at towards a goal.n She wiD always Comisky and Ben Carr are some ofthe RWU and very knowledgeable about Carr sees this issue as a problem that people who are helping to diversify the diversity on campus, said "This is cer­ this university needs to solve. "I have be remembered. University. tainly a deficit we have. We are all been here for thirty-two years and I do Loretta Shelton, the Vice­ missing out on the worldviews ofa very not think that this university tries to hire President ofAcademic Affairs said "the significant part of our American her­ Memorial for African-Americans. The situation is word 'problem' puts the situation in a itage. African-Americans helped to just not being handled. If it was, then negative construct. Obviously our pro­ shape this country." Rebecca Kelton this wouldn 't be an issue. The file does not reflect American society. see Comisky, page 3 pages 7-10 . No one would argue otherwise. We are President just isn't addressing this issue Students not seeing eye to eye Issue: New Electronic with security over alcohol issues Communication By Brian Rhodes bag, the officer still requested the bag says, "No changes in policy have been Layout Editor be dropped, stated Incalcatera. made." Policy Many students agree with the Bowie commented that officers patrol­ page 3 Coming back from a volley­ women's volleyball team that public ing in Bayside started at the end of last ball match against Suffolk at about 9:00 safety seems a lot tougher this year, year. He also states, "It is in the best on a Thursday night, members of the bordering on what the students are con­ interest of the student body to preserve women's team was stopped by a RWU sidering harassment. In the past, the a positive environment, and avoid a Public Safety officer stated Christine women's team might have received a negative one ." Incalcatera, a member of the women's "good evening" from the officer, but Rich~rd Stegman, Assistant Reviews: volleyball team. Despite being in athlet­ heightened enforcement of underage Dean of StudentslDirector of Student ic gear and team uniforms, the officer drinking and campus party regulations Life, backs up Bowie's comments that Radiohead's asked the players to search the bags have students inquiring about the new no policy changes have been made. He new album and looking for alcohol she said. attitude or policies for the start of the also says, "What's the problem with Incalcatera recalled the inci­ semester. extra security? If your doing nothing the new dent calling it "unusual" and saying One ofthe most noticeable dif­ illegal then there's no problem, and it's "We didn't think 'the search was neces­ ferences described by students is the for your benefit." Cameron sary." presence ofPublic Safety officers in the When asked about the random She said, "We were just walking back units ofBayside on the weekends. Matt searches of backpacks, giving the Crowe flick, from the gym, walking down the hill to Snow, a Bayside resident agrees with example of the women's voll eyball Bayside after the match. We were others by calling ii a "probation-like . team, Bowie said that random searches Almost doing nothing to draw any attention to environment" , are not all right, but ifa reasonable sus­ Famous ourselves," Snow says, "These changes are daving picion is present, the searching of a bag According to Incalcatera, the me crazy, it's like they don't want US to is part ofthe job. page 13 officer asked one of the players to drop have any fun." Stegman added, that RA's and her bag on the ground. Despite telling Despite what students say, security officers make judgement- the officer her cell phone was in the Bruce Bowie, Director ofPublic Safety, see Security, page 4 November 3, 2000 THE HAWK'S EYE- page 2 I Information/Briefings Hawk's Eve ~ • Editor's Notes Editor-tn-Chief Aly Mase Assistant to Editor I've never really had any regrets in my life, I felt I made Heath Marell some dumb choices, of course, but I never believed that I would have wanted to make them any differently should I have the chance Layout Editor to do it all again, because they all shape who I have become. I did­ Brian Rhodes n't have any regrets, that is, until now. News Editor I'm not sure if anyone realizes, but the majority oflocal news Jessica Latimer reporters (whether they be from newspapers or local television) had contacted me in the week ofRebecca Kelton's death, perhaps believ­ Sports Editors ing that as the campus news source, I would have more knowledge Michael Lynch and Marc Stroum of the situation then they. They were looking for answers to ques­ Entertainment Editor tions like "Who was she?" and "What kind ofperson was she?" and, Beth Martinson regretfully, all I could say was "I honestly don't know." After hear­ ing what a wonderful, amazing, funny, and caring person Rebecca Ctubs and Organizations Editor was, I regret, more than anything, not taking the time to get to know John Tanagho her. I regret not allowing myself to be more visible, open, and Contributing Editor approachable to people on campus, because I missed out on know­ Katherine Marcotte ing someone as amazing as Rebecca. As far as media coverage goes, do not expect any news on Staff Writers Rebecca's death in this .issue of the Hawk's Eye.