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STUDENT P FIRST EDITION: FACULTY- DATING ISSUE Tosse Provost Coley's memo regarding this topic, 8 L __ tu_r_n_to_p_a _e_6__ ....1 . Volume XVI, Number I Western Maryland College Summer Campus unites to create fun-filled orientation worker BY CHRISTIAN WILWQHL "largest coordinated effort" for ori- ANI) SHAWN SPRAGUF. entation. This year's events in- held at The New.~ Editor and SwffWriter began volved not only Student Orientors but also Resident students first-year Class: Assistants, and staff knifepoint their sojourn at WMC in the pour- room Assistants, faculty organiza- ing rain as they lined up to ring the and campus members, Plaza bell in Memorial following Convocation. Despite its stormy tions such as ROTC and CAPBoard to name a few. RY EMILY STAMATHIS beginning, this year's orientation With much feedback about last Assistant News Editor was a booming success. year's orientation, Homeff and oth- A part-rime WMC employee es- Orientation's highlight, the all- ers involved decided to improve the caped unharmed after a group of nighter at the Four Seasons Sports program to make it more enjoyable five males attacked him at Complex, was filled to the brim for the students. "After all, orien- knifepolnt on the track in Bair Sta- with activities. "Pushball was a tation is for students," commented dium over summer break. blast," said first-year student Clint Homeff. The victim was restrained by McKay. Students spent the night This year's orientation schedule some of the assailants while the playing sports, swimming, watch- included more social activities and attacker held the weapon to his ing movies, and even sleeping. free time between them. First-year throat. No attempt at robbery or any In addition, ROTC gave stu- student Jay Ferrante said, "The Student Orientors worked with Dean Horneff to launch the Class of 2001 into an exciting future at WMC other related crime was made. dents the opportunity to explore the dances [sponsored by the RA's and The incident. which occurred midnight darkness with night vision CAPBoard] were great, and I'm around 10:30 PM on the night of goggles, and WMCR kept students looking forward 10 more of these Other events such as "Choices" Tan said the walk was too long and August 9, ended without serious on their feet all night with great events this semester." and James Felton's presentation on that he would have enjoyed some- injury when one of the accomplices music. Student Orientor Dan Key players in orientation, the multicultural issues offered new thing shorter. convinced the attacker that they Shattuck '98 said, "I danced until Student Orientors enthusiastically srudents advice on adjusting to col- Monica Mariniello, another should flee the scene, according to dawn!" encouraged their students to par- lege social life. first-year student, commented, a Security Notice distributed by Associate Dean of the First-year ticipate in orientation activities. The first-year students explored "The scavenger hunt helped me Campus Safety Director Mike Program Barb Homeff commented, The first-year students overwhelm- WMC's campus and downtown get to know the town." She fur- Webster. "For our first attempt, this event ingly responded. First-year student Westminster through a scavenger ther explained that she felt at ease There was to be an investiga- was extremely successful." How- Bethany Young said, "My SO hunt. This activity allowed the stu- during her recent walk down Main tion with the Westminster Police ever, the general consensus was that group helped me make connections dents to acquaint themselves with Street. Department, Webster said, but the the occasion would have been with other people." their new surroundings. As they Reflecting on orientation, Dean unidentified victim didn't wish to equally successful had it ended at The first-year students attended walked through town, many West- Horneff offered, "Orientation is proceed with the investigation and 2 or 3 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. pizza parties and picnics which al- minster residents welcomed stu- the most opportune moment in the declined to file a complaint. With- According to Hcrneff, this lowed them to interact in a more dents to the community. first-year students' lives at WMC. out cooperation from the victim, year's success resulted from the relaxed atmosphere. First-year student Kwang Yi How they start is how they finish." there will be no new developments Faculty-wide memo warns against amorous in the case. "It sort of becomes a non-issue want to play relationships with students for us when there are no witnesses and the victim doesn't ball with us," Webster said. "It's frustrating." sexual harassment workshop in Although the Coley memo cau- be. In the worst case scenario, le- SraffWriter In an attempt to reach the vic- March. According to Coley, fac- tions professors that dating students gal action could result with devas- tim for comment, TIle Phoenix has A memo was sent to all faculty ulty attendance was poor although is not condoned, she acknowledges tating implications." been informed that he does not feel members by Provost Joan Coley many staff members and adminis- that neither the policy in the Affir- Dr. Michael Losch, an art his- comfortable discussing the issue warning them of the dangers of trators were there. ~ mative Action Manual nor in the tory professor, points out that, "By any further. dating students, even though there Last year "increasing numbers Student Guide and DateBook deals Continued on page 6 After the attack, Campus Safety isn't a WMC policy that specifi- of students" complained to the Aca- with student-faculty out-of-c1ass- posted Security Notices on the cally prohibits it. demic Affairs Office and elsewhere room relationships. Inside doors of residence buildings to in- The College does not condone on campus about student and fac- In her memo Coley said she ................................... 2 form those on campus of what had dating between students and fac- ulty relationships that go beyond consulted an attorney (not named .................... 3 happened. However, since the in- ulty, reads the memo. the bounds of casual friendship, in the memo) at the college's sexual .. cident occurred several weeks be- "This is a serious issue and I according to the memo. harassment workshop. "I was ad- ................. 5 4 fore the start of the semester, many think people ought to take it seri- Asked bye-mail if the contents vised," the memo reads, "that it is ............../i returning students do not know ously." said Coley, dean of faculty, of the memo create college policy, important to indicate that the Col- about the assault. Sophomore An- in an interview. Coley responded, "Of course I am lege does not condone dating be- ................. 7 drea Ahlburn feels that the entire The two-page memo, accompa- not making policy with my letter. tween students and faculty. At the student body should have been nied by a statement of the college's I think, however, it reflects a clear very least it is unethical to date a policy on sexual harassment. was statement of the position of the col- student who is currently in a fac- Continued on page 4 written on May 8 following a lege." uity member's class or is likely to