Letter to the editor

To the editor:

I very much applaud the recent Spectator article that outlines more efficient building access for GS (“Plan outlines more efficient building access for GS,” Nov 10, 2009). In the article, the General Studies Student Council advocates for swipe access to public spaces in dormitories for GS students. However, the very fact that the GSSC has to urge the administration to issue swipe access to GS students shows a lack of commitment to said students by the administration. What argument could the administration possibly have for refusing only one of its three undergraduate schools swipe access to the dormitories? That the administration, as represented by Brian Birkeland, says that this is “an important issue for the administration” but has done nothing about it for the past several years speaks to their efficiency and concern for students’ plight. GS students contribute an immense amount of diversity, funds, and academic rigor to this community. As such, for them to be treated in what is at best a nonchalant manner, and at worst as second-class citizens, is unexplainable, unacceptable, and unforgivable. The administration will do best to move with the greatest sense of urgency to reverse this wrong against every one of the over 1,000 GS students, and not with piecemeal measures—such as access to public spaces alone—but unlimited access to dormitories. The culture of separating and discriminating against undergraduate students by schools must stop and it can only happen when the administration stops putting up roadblocks and discriminatory policies that foster such attitudes. It might make for good jokes at the Varsity Show, but we cannot come here to change the world only to create artificial differences that prevent the unity and collegiate atmosphere we so much desire on this campus.

Abiola Akinyemi, GS ’10
Nov. 17, 2009