Letter to the Editor: The Diary of a Sewanee Response to ^>onse to Aramark \ Bacchus Van Driver., Virginia Tech Cover Story "*% £ General ^ on Spring Pg.3 Party jr Massacre Newspape Pgl3 rs v. 4 no . 5 3mTHE STUPFNTOP?^^ MT^Z^ APRIL 2007 ^^MLQRG^OT^:^SiRSnYOT^ESOm Change in McClurg ~* The Iraq War Rages Since Last Issue's Closer to the Mounted Article in The Purple Than Students May Know Ashley Gallman John McGregor Like most college campuses, In the time following the most were her own children. But Sewanee if you sits outside Ms. recent is a place far removed from Jeannie's apartment issue of The Purple, several don't live in St. Luke's, you might the not where she reads war in Iraq. Not just geographically, Cody's messages. new events have occurred regarding know that Ms. Jeannie Robinson's but own Inside the also in terms of the effects newly renovated dorm, Ms. the article that investigated the of the son is in Iraq. Army quality Captain Cody Jeannie of war. Life on the Mountain has gone carries a piece of the war with Aramark as the University's food on Robinson, a husband and father of two her every day, much the same although she it service provider. as always these past four children, * "* ***does withWith As a result, further has been in Iraq on his second TvZZ? " years, $ Z?* and for most people in ° **"* inquiry was made into the status Sewanee, tour since about the ** of the beginX^"iiifig oTtneor tne l^T,arc able the war has become much to noticeT*a worried mother's dining hall and additional comments the same as have background noise, a constant yet wholly been received regarding the forgettable changes, news headline. There is no both positive and negative, at McClurg. draft, no administration buildings have been shut down, and even discussion On April 13th, the day the about the war among students is largely new issue was released, a new health limited inspector to the kind of cursory "for or accompanied by the district against" opinions that one would expect health inspector Eric Coffey held from news pundits and not Sewanee an unannounced visit to McClurg. students. The stress of long periods According to several employees, Keith of Davis separation and the traumatic effects was not present in the dining hall of a constant and sustained melee that day, so the visit was completely of bombings and ambushes have been unexpected. After his visit, Coffey born almost exclusively by a small gave the dining hall a health rating of fraction of America's population, the a 76 out of a possible 100, a significant all volunteer reduction military and their families, from McClurg 's consistent not to score mention the people of Iraq. Just of 93. Coffey explained that as with he much of the rest of the country, made the visit because he and his for Sewanee the war has remained a associate were in the area for an event distant distraction, as familiar as if it and because it is his policy to investigate were happening decades ago. Or so facilities that have recently received it would seem. For some community complaints. Aramark was then given members and students, the war holds a the standard ten days to improve on degree of personal pain and familiarity academic year. any violations, and when retested, He has been stationed the uneasiness. I visited Ms. Jeannie a few that often goes unnoticed by the in Baghdad facility received a 92, which, as well as Kirkuk, and Ms. unlike the weeks ago, and she was eager to show community at large. Students 76 score, was enlarged of St. Jeannie has been able to hear from and circled in me pictures that Cody had recently Luke's dorm have been privileged the frame at the entrance to him mainly via e-mail. The pictures to McClurg. sent. She fired off questions about have a matron who regularly treats he sends are Several employees a universe removed from the suggested that pictures and I could recognize them to snacks that this and parties, as if they idyllic and lush Manigault Park, sudden change in score was due to which See SEWANEE IN IRAQ, p. 2 the change in inspector. One employee commented, 'This inspection was Dean Katie Steele to Leave Sewanee After Five Years actually a surprise. The rumor has Thomas Ewers been going around that Keith [Davis] was getting warned by the last This is the last semester for Assistant Steele had not completed her graduate After observing inspector." Coffey, however, how well it works, the suggested Dean of Students, Katie Steele. She program, Sewanee overlooked her. tradition that the change had remained. Dean Steele also nothing to with will be leaving after a five year career Michelle Thompson stumbled across helped develop conspiracy or poor the ResLife survey that sanitation. Rather, at Sewanee. Some of you might know her resume in the conference book and students take every he commented, "That year. This helps the facility is so large her through applying for a Residential met with her before her year was up. administration that a lot understand what needs of little things can add up." He Life position or working in one of the Impressed with Dean Steele's resume to be done in the dorms, that otherwise explained that it is difficult to maintain many different positions that ResLife and interview, Mrs. Thompson brought could go unnoticed. Through a large dining area such the as McClurg offers. Others might know her through Miss Steele to Sewanee to meet the surveys, the administration and that despite has decided the size of its facility, one of the many write-ups that she Dean of Students (Dean of Students, at to air-condition all common rooms in Aramark does "an excellent job." For receives each semester from ResLife the time) Dean Pearigen, now a Vice every dorm for next year. Other dorms concerned students, he recommended staff or maybe just through room draw. President of the college. Dean Steele will receive new furniture through reviewing the this complete score sheet If you do not know her, had she knows never heard of Sewanee, and had survey. online at tn.state.gegov.com/tennessee/ you through your housing applications not considered working in the South. and suggested that after reviewing the as an incoming freshman that Nicky After spending some time on campus, Katie Steele was also a sponsor of form, students may determine the that there Hamilton and Katie pour over every she fell in love with the school because Women's Center, helping organize was "really not and one thing that lead to a summer trying to get a roommate for of the pride displayed by the students develop the program. lower score." Dean Steele has you. and faculty. been "impressed how well Another the Women's change has been noted Katie Steele graduated from Colgate Center program has developed," during by employees in the management's in 1999 and received her Masters in While Dean Steele was here, she her tenure here. Dean Steele also deals treatment of certain staff members education from Harvard in 2002. Before helped institute the First Year Program. with housing students and the one following the last issue of The Purple. completing her graduate degree, Dean Dean Steele says, "I wanted to maintain thing she would have liked to do better One worker explained this shift as a Steele created a profile and sent in her the traditions here at Sewanee, was "push for further evaluation of "head hunt," explaining that managers resume to an online conference that especially in Residential Life."The idea space for students." Housing students are on the search for the "disgruntled" tries to match up potential employers of students from all four years living in in rooms that became doubles or triples with applicants. But See MCCLURG CHANGES, pJ3 because Dean the same dorm was intriguing to her. See KATIE STEELE, p. 3 ! . Page 2 SEWANEEPURPLE.COM OPENS: SEWANEE IN IRAQ Students Abroad & Alums Now Have Access [continued from the Front Page] she was eager for any information she more so than the average student body. could get about her son. "What's that But is there an absence of dialogue, written on his helmet?" she asked as or even a complete lack of awareness she pointed at the computer screen, and about the war in Iraq among students before I realized what I was saying I on the Mountain? Last year I went to blurted out, "oh, that's his blood type". the Sewanee Peace coalition's panel I immediately regretted it. Ms. Jeanie discussion on Iraq marking the three occupies a state of mind that few on year anniversary of the invasion. I the Mountain understand, and even thought the discussion was extremely those of us who have seen war do not thoughtful and much better than the know the kind of anxiety that sits in the average news broadcast, but to my stomachs of our families. utter shock there were virtually no The anxiety and uncertainty of students present. I have always found having a family member in Iraq or Sewanee to be a place where students deployed elsewhere overseas has been actively discuss academics outside experienced over the past few years the classroom, and I have had many by more than one Sewanee student. informed and passionate discussions Recent graduates Laura Johnston and about any variety of topics while Michelle Brasse (C of '06) have shared shouting over loud music in between the experience of having a brother gulps of PBR.