Fight Residence Life, win back returning residents' rights

This letter is to inform the student body of the dire circumstances that Residence Life is putting on-campus students in. All this humdrum and turmoil has been brought to my attention by the tireless efforts of many of my fellow students.Ê

I am aware that many of you are tired of being stepped on by the many different facets of this wonderful institute of higher education which we are pleased to call the University of Arizona. I would like to point out that the supposed mission of this institution is to provide its students with a well-rounded and broad education, and that the residence halls are a key component of the formula for success. Residence halls are places where academics can flourish while students learn valuable social skills such as interaction with others in close situations and time management.ÊWithout the benefit of residence halls, the dropout rate for freshmen would be well over its approximate 50 percent.

However, Residence Life has decided that one year of this academic environment is sufficient and that other classes (sophomore, junior and senior) should be thrust into the chomping jaws of competitive - and scarce - off campus housing.Ê

This seems to complement the other plans that the university has brought up, such as an outrageously expensive center for freshman students only - as if only freshman had academic problems!

I would like to bring up my own humble opinion as to the state of affairs at this university. It seems to me that there is a considerable leaning of governing bodies toward making the largest amount of money possible. This is seen in the fact that there is a considerable dropout rate after the freshman year, so to be able to profit they must attract more freshman each year. Those that do remain to stay are, for the most part, inconsequential because they only contribute a small amount to the profit margin. They are therefore creating plans to push away the potential returning students to create more room for the truly profitable population.

So where does this leave us?ÊOut in the cold, it would seem. Yet this need not be so. This situation brings to mind a quote by Mr. Henry David Thoreau in his esteemed Civil Disobedience in which he basically says that if there is ever an institution which attempts to force you to do something which would make you violate your principles, morals or beliefs, or which would cause you to do harm to yourself or your family, that it should be ignored and you should act on your own volition, and not be the stooge of a powerful conglomerate (the university in this case).

I entreat each and every one of you to examine this situation and decide for yourself whether mediation is the key, or if more effective means are necessary. Keep in mind how the residence hall directors have already attempted to squash our political reaction which could possibly prevent Residence Life from carrying out their scheme. Is this simply a policy which we must work around, or is it an indication of a deeper problem rooted in Residence Life itself?

Matt Ortiz
Undeclared freshman