THE TROUBLE WITH TURMAN

A major loophole in WebRoomz has created an environment inconducive to a
positive freshman living experience. Throughout the 2003-2004 term, the
administration has encountered conduct problems at the Turman Residential
Complex. One could cite the physical disconnect from the main campus or
possibly the lack of concern by residential staff members. However, both
assertions are unlikely. A higher amount of reported incidents involving
alcohol and drugs have occurred in Turman than in any other freshman
residence hall.

While clearly not all students living in Turman abuse alcohol and drugs, a
higher percentage likely exists there than in any other freshman dorm. One
cannot deny that Turman remains the last choice of most prospective
freshmen. The housing lottery sought to heighten diversity, but, as
mentioned in previous Wheel articles, the system has appeared to
increasingly polarize freshmen.

The possibility that a majority of those who frequently partake in alcohol
and drugs received low housing lottery numbers is improbable. But since
individuals who regularly engage in alcohol or drugs tend to be much lazier
than the average incoming freshman, their procrastination toward selecting
a room may have created a haven for those who wait until the last minute.
Combining these students with those bitter hallmates who did in fact
receive low lottery numbers, and taking into account the dorm's isolation
from the rest of the freshman halls, Turman has become a powder keg for
rowdy and potentially destructive behavior.

On the surface, one might strictly blame the students for such behavior.
Yet some members of the Turman staff - and they know who they are - seem
more determined to "bust" their residents than to maintain a safe living
environment. Consequently, it appears that a higher number of Turman
students do not feel comfortable interacting with the staff because of its
propensity to seek disciplinary action rather than encouraging positive
relationships.

If eradicating underage drinking and illegal drug use is the goal of some
members of the Turman staff, they are failing miserably.

Instead of constantly reprimanding those who break school policy, the
residential staff should seek to create a hall where students do not
hesitate to approach their hall mentors about alcohol and drug abuse. For
residential staff, John Bolds' suicide should have reinforced the necessity
of fostering positive relationships with students. If freshmen do not
generally feel comfortable approaching their hall leaders, then everyone -
from the dean of students to the sophomore advisers - is performing
inadequately.

In the end, every member of the Emory community should be more concerned
with maintaining the health and well-being of the students than with
creating a Draconian environment of fear and mistrust. Constant alcohol and
drug abuse cannot be justified as healthy lifestyles. Nevertheless, the
answer is not to consistently bust students for underage drinking rather
than to promote meaningful dialogue. University laws and procedures must be
enforced, but a far graver problem exists when students are not able to
express their problems to their hall advisors - advisers who are supposed
to work toward constructing an emotional safety net for the students.