Old dorms or new? Every year, this same deceptively simple question is posed to 3,000 rising first years - the response to which, as anyone will tell you, will largely define a student's revered "first-year experience."
But in a move that may eliminate incoming students' ability to state their preference, Student Council is revisiting a fall 2000 proposal put on hold by the University's ad hoc enrollment committee, comprised of five faculty members and no students.
Under the proposal's plan, the housing department would randomly assign entering first-year students to either McCormick Road or Alderman Road residence areas.
The proposal is intended to address what has been "a perceived racial divide between old and new dorms," Dean of Students Penny Rue said.
Traditionally, the McCormick Road residence area houses a much lower percentage of non-white, non-Virginian students than does the Alderman Road residence area.
Officials also expressed concern that old dorms were reputed to be more "social" than the new dorm alternative. Traditionally, more McCormick Road residents participate in IFC or ISC rush. The goal, Rue added, was "diversity across a vast number of dimensions."
As of now, Council has taken no official stance on the original proposal. Law School Rep. Adam Woodson and Engineering School Rep. Marshall Hurley plan to work with Council's Housing Committee Chairman John Bailey to draft a new resolution later this year.
"The Student Council is in a tough position because on one hand we have to represent student opinion, but on the other hand we have to consider the issue for ourselves," Council Executive Vice President Adam Swann said. "With the overwhelming interest in preserving the choice, we are hesitant to say what's best for students. That's not our job."
The proposal was suspended in fall 2000 after former Council president Joe Bilby voiced concerns to Leonard W. Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer, over a lack of student input in the ad hoc committee's decision.
Sandridge responded to Bilby's concern in a letter addressed to Shirley L. Menaker, associate provost for academic support, suggesting that the policy not be changed for the following year. However, he noted that he would be receptive to future proposals.
Now, one year later, Council is taking new steps to re-address the issue with the faculty committee.
"We wanted to follow up and see if they are still pursuing the idea to make sure that nothing gets approved or planned without student input being considered," Swann said.
Preston Lloyd, chairman of Council's Legislative Affairs Committee, conducted a survey of first-year students last spring with the cooperation of Wiliam Harmon, then vice president of student affairs.
"About 75 percent opposed eliminating the choice," Swann said.
According to Lloyd, who is also a Cavalier Daily opinion columnist, about 500 to 600 responses were received from a class of roughly 3,000.
But echoing the concerns of some Council representatives and faculty alike, Rue cautioned against reaching a conclusion that relied too heavily on popular opinion.
"Part of the first-year experience is an experience of diversity," Rue said. "Students tend to value what their own experience was. In a knee-jerk reaction, most students feel that if they couldn't have had the same experience, it would have been awful."
Student Council President Abby Fifer agreed with Rue, citing the need to educate students on the issue.
"Student Council's primary concern is that the enrollment committee take responsibility for educating students on both sides of this issue so that students are able to form an opinion based on facts rather than impulse," Fifer said.
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