Instead of rushing to patch up the symptom, the university ought to look at the real situation underlying the riots. We students have been largely helpless since Campus Partners has closed some of the coolest hang-outs on High Street and the school begins to impose multiple tuition hikes on us.
What is the result? It is a bunch of students with less pocket money and fewer socially acceptable outlets who are asked just to endure the cost and behave themselves while the university gets a corporate makeover. This is a recipe for disorderly conduct.
Furthermore, the grandiose plans that our administrators continue laying before us regarding the quality of education and service do not seem to be doing us much good. For instance, though they pay lip service to diversity, there seem to be fewer cultural activities and consequently fewer opportunities for us to express ourselves than there were when I first came here four years ago.
Many of us believe that the university was not half bad to begin with. Why all the changes? I cannot say I condone what went on over the weekend, but I would certainly have to empathize with those involved and agree that what went on was the symptom of a deeper problem in our administration.
Andrew StraderSeniorCIS
