2008 Woodie Awards
Student Life restructuring meets mixed reactions
By: Brian Martucci
Issue date: 3/10/06 Section: News
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A two-year plan to restructure Student Affairs, developed by Associate Dean of Students Jim Hoppe, has been met with mixed reactions by students and staff.
The plan eliminates the positions of Director of Residential Life, held by Sarah Griesse until she left on Feb. 28, Director of Campus Programs, held by Brian Wagner, and Associate Director of Leadership, held by Ramon Knox, both of whom will not be employed in their roles after spring 2007. The goal of the reorganization is to consolidate Campus Programs and Residential Life, in an effort to improve efficiency and communication within Student Affairs, Hoppe said.
According to Wagner, the restructuring will create significant short-term problems for Campus Programs and Residential Life staff, Macalesterâ?TMs students of color, and many student organizations that depend on Student Affairs staff members.
â?oeCampus Programs and Residential Life, like most of the divisions within the administration, were always run to be â?~lean and mean,â?TMâ?? Wagner said. After the current staff cuts, however, â?oethe worry is that there simply wonâ?TMt be enough staff here to do the amount of work that needs to be done,â?? he said.
Aside from the strain on individual staff members, concerns have also been raised about dwindling staff resources for students of color. Both Wagner and Knox have been cited as strong allies of cultural organizations on campus.
â?oeThere are many ways to build and shape the student experience,â?? Wagner said. â?oeThe unfortunate reality is that, through the elimination of multicultural staff, many constructive student-staff relationships are going to be severed.â??
The restructuring could also have an effect on the connection between student organizations. Wagner is responsible for advising and supporting over 80 student and cultural organizations.
â?oeBrian Wagner is essential to student org. planning and a great resource,â?? said Anna Goldberg â?TM08, a representative of NARAL Pro-Choice at Macalester. â?oeHe does a great job bringing speakers and events to campus.â??
The plan eliminates the positions of Director of Residential Life, held by Sarah Griesse until she left on Feb. 28, Director of Campus Programs, held by Brian Wagner, and Associate Director of Leadership, held by Ramon Knox, both of whom will not be employed in their roles after spring 2007. The goal of the reorganization is to consolidate Campus Programs and Residential Life, in an effort to improve efficiency and communication within Student Affairs, Hoppe said.
According to Wagner, the restructuring will create significant short-term problems for Campus Programs and Residential Life staff, Macalesterâ?TMs students of color, and many student organizations that depend on Student Affairs staff members.
â?oeCampus Programs and Residential Life, like most of the divisions within the administration, were always run to be â?~lean and mean,â?TMâ?? Wagner said. After the current staff cuts, however, â?oethe worry is that there simply wonâ?TMt be enough staff here to do the amount of work that needs to be done,â?? he said.
Aside from the strain on individual staff members, concerns have also been raised about dwindling staff resources for students of color. Both Wagner and Knox have been cited as strong allies of cultural organizations on campus.
â?oeThere are many ways to build and shape the student experience,â?? Wagner said. â?oeThe unfortunate reality is that, through the elimination of multicultural staff, many constructive student-staff relationships are going to be severed.â??
The restructuring could also have an effect on the connection between student organizations. Wagner is responsible for advising and supporting over 80 student and cultural organizations.
â?oeBrian Wagner is essential to student org. planning and a great resource,â?? said Anna Goldberg â?TM08, a representative of NARAL Pro-Choice at Macalester. â?oeHe does a great job bringing speakers and events to campus.â??
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