The H-SC Tiger

Dean of Students’ Return to Office Provokes a Mixed Response

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:13:55 +0000

Dean Klein was placed on administrative leave after students protested the administration’s actions in front of Venable Hall on February 23.

On February 23, a couple hundred of students gathered on the lawn in front of Venable Hall to protest a proposed drug policy as well as actions by the Dean of Students Office related to the policy. The following day, Dr. David Klein, Dean of Students, was put on temporary administrative leave and temporarily replaced by Thomas Shomo, Director of Communications.

About two weeks later, this situation is still a hot button and divisive topic amongst members of the student body. Regarding the policy itself and its content, students for the most part have no big problems. For example, sophomore Ryan Raybuck believes that the policy “is fair, gives you several chances and allows for forgiveness.” Other students, however, pointed out what they believed to be flaws in the proposed drug policy.

“While the policy is not completely unfair, I don’t think students should have to pay for drug testing, especially students with great financial needs,” said sophomore Drake Bishop. Senior Patrick Young’s noted that “[the policy] is sound, but that it should allow for punishments to be made by student court and an appeals process.” Sophomore Ben Durham also put in his two cents, stating that he believes the “content was a too draconian and haphazard at times; for example, underage drinking being an automatic suspension.”

Students are more widely opposed to the way the Dean of Students Office handled this situation than they are to the policy itself. “Based on what we’ve learned [since the protest], I’m very upset with the Dean of Student’s Office and believed they handled the situation pretty poorly,” Bishop added. Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, felt that the “[Dean of Students Office] were kind of shoving [the proposal] down our throats a little bit.”

While most students disapproved of the recent actions of Dean Klein and the Dean of Students Office, others came to his defense on the matter. “I have a good personal relationship with Dean Klein, and I think the problem was more of a lack of communication with students and administration,” Durham said. Raybuck, meanwhile, said that “since the accusations, [Dean Klein and the Dean of Students office] have handled the situation professionally in my opinion.”

This controversy was reignited by a campus-wide e-mail sent by President Chris Howard on Sunday, March 4. In the e-mail, Howard wrote that “after a full investigation of the matter, I have concluded that a gross miscommunication occurred between the parties involved [and that] I see no need for Dr. David Klein to remain on Administrative Leave. I have asked him to resume his duties as Dean of Students effective [this past Monday].”

As with other aspects of this issue, the students were greatly divided in their opinions of Dean Klein’s reinstatement. Raybuck supported the decision, citing that “over the last 30 years, he has done countless good things for this college and one mistake shouldn’t condemn him.” On the other hand, another student speaking on condition of anonymity had some suspicions, stating that he was “intrigued by the short-term investigation” and believes that Dean Klein’s “quick reinstatement won’t reestablish trust [between students and administration].”

It is hard to predict where it will all lead since events continue to unfold. However, it is easy to label this as one of the biggest student vs. administration controversies Hampden-Sydney has seen in recent years.

Dean Klein

H-SC to Welcome a New Dean of Faculty

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:12:50 +0000

At the end of the 2011-12 academic year, Hampden-Sydney will welcome a new Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Dennis Stevens of Randolph College. The search was a long and tenuous process according to Dr. Utzinger, the Associate Dean of the Faculty: “the process included a search committee appointed by the president with four faculty members, three were elected and one that is appointed.”
The Dean of the Faculty is an official of the college that is crucial to the operation of the college in maintaining the academic standards and setting forth the future faculty agenda. While the position is important it is not a position widely known or understood among students. Dean Utzinger said that the role is “the highest ranking official after the president and is of extreme importance. The Dean will also have a mediating role between faculty and administration to communicate a new strategic plan.”
With the new incoming Dean of the Faculty Dean Herdegen will be returning to his position as a faculty member in the Department of Psychology. In an interview with Dean Herdegen he revealed how he has come to see his tenure in the position in collaboration with others as an accomplishment. Herdegen has said that his responsibilities are broad and that he is tasked with the job of “overseeing the entire faculty in addition to the staff in the other departments under the Dean of the Faculty.” The task is not a simple managerial position with an overview role that is hands off, but rather one that sees him working with numerous committees that seek to employ new faculty members along with guiding the process of a new curriculum reviews that the school holds every couple of years.
The curriculum review is crucial to the continuing process undertaken by the administration to maintain the rigorous academic standards that have always been a part of the Hampden-Sydney College experience. In noting the accomplishments that have been realized in the past years, Dean Herdegen stated that one thing he has been proud of was the ability to have brought “12 new tenure track faculty,” which includes hires for next year, four in the department of biology. These professors have, according to Herdegen, added the ability for this school to better achieve its mission in allowing students greater opportunities to advanced teaching on par with similar schools.
Another opportunity achieved by the college through Dean Herdegen and other’s work was the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation’s $250,000 award to make significant improvements to the classrooms. This too will allow the college to improve its academic environment and better equip both teachers and students to facilitate an environment for the continued success of the academic life at the College.
In conclusion Dean Herdegen stated, “this has been one of the highlights of my professional life, I have loved representing the College, I love this place, and I look forward to contributing to the college.” Namely, in his role that first brought him to the college, teaching.
By looking at the accomplishments that Dean Herdegen has brought to the College, one can easily conclude that the students have been greatly served by his tenure as the Dean of the Faculty and look forward to the future contributions of his successor Dr. Stevens.

Two Juniors in Home Stretch of the Truman Scholarship

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:11:09 +0000

Hampden- Sydney juniors, Christian Herbert-Pryor and Ryan Carter recently received word from the Truman Scholarship program about being chosen as finalists for the scholarship. The Truman scholarship is aimed towards college juniors who plan on attending graduate school for careers in government, non-profit, public service or education. From 272 colleges, 587 applications were received by the foundation. The candidates were then narrowed down to 191, after passing through the Finalist Selection Committee. Carter and Herbert-Pryor were chosen by the committee as part of that prestigious group of 191, but the road ahead still calls for a lot of hard work for the duo. Both of these H-SC men will soon have to appear in front of a rigorous Regional Review Panel. Carter will appear in front of the panel in his home state of Virginia, and Herbert-Pryor will travel to Fort Worth, Texas.
Though the application process was challenging for both candidates, the help of many Hampden-Sydney professors (Dr. Frye, Dr. Robbins, and Dr. Bagby to name a few) made the process much more manageable for the two. The application consisted of, “a series of questions geared towards getting to know us, learning our story, and understanding how our story provides a career trajectory and how we plan to live life,” said Herbert-Pryor.
“It’s definitely been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” said Carter with a tone of accomplishment. Carter knows he will have to impress the panel in order to win the scholarship. With the scholarship, Carter hopes to attend graduate school at Harvard where he plans to acquire his masters in both Public Service and Business Administration.
In preparation for the panel, “The best way to prepare is to prepare for everything,” says Herbert-Pryor. The candidates could be quizzed on anything from their stance on public policy to knowledge of President Truman’s own time in office. Win or lose, Herbert- Pryor will strive to become a change agent in the future and, “influence my community and ignite a fire into the younger generation to be more driven, focused, and concerned with education,” he comments.
In a country where education and public service is constantly under the microscope, the H-SC community can take great solace in sending out these two gentlemen into such a field. The Tiger community will extends our congratulations to these students in their success and wishes them good luck in their future efforts.

Replacing Pen, Paper and Our Professors?

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:10:29 +0000

Bringing laptops to class has become a very common trend among students.

Personal computers are the new fashion in Hampden-Sydney classrooms, and it’s not because professors added them to the list of required school supplies (if we ever had one). You’ve probably noticed the increasing number of students who take their laptop to class every day, if you’re not already among the many who do. While it once was the case that the only person in a classroom to have access to any kind of technology was the professor, today we see more and more students depending on more than one form of technology to complete their school work, or so our professors would like to assume.
The fact is that technology prevails in many aspects of our lives. Its prevalence in our lives as students is certainly no exception, nor do I think could be one. As with any other kind of technology, personal computers can be used for good or for worst, both inside and outside the classroom. They can, for instance, enrich the learning experience of a student, if he chooses to use it for academic purposes like taking notes in class. But they can also impoverish the learning experience of a student, if he chooses to use it for non-academic purposes like chatting on Facebook during class. Whether most students use their laptops for the former use, or for the latter, we cannot know for sure.
What we do know is whether we as individuals are using our laptops to facilitate us to learn, or to facilitate us to get through a “boring” lecture. When asked about his reasons for using a laptop in class, freshman Michael Bolling commented, “I use my laptop to take notes in class.” He also admitted, “I get on Facebook every now and then, but that is not the main reason I bring my laptop to class.” When asked about his reasons for not using a laptop in class, freshman Robinson Sagar said, “I’ve never used a laptop in class before because I know I would be tempted to not takes notes, and do something else instead.”
Unfortunately for professors, what students do or don’t do on their laptops, isn’t always clear. In regards to the use of laptops in his classes, History Professor Charles Pilkington states, “I am unbenevolent about it. There is no way to know what the students are actually doing on their laptops”. Likewise, Rhetoric Professor Elizabeth Deis adds, “To a certain extent, it is almost impossible not to allow the students to use their laptops, given they are so prevalent.” For many professors, the use of laptops in the classroom isn’t so much an issue in and of itself; rather, it is the act of not knowing what the students are actually doing on their laptops that disconcerts them. More so, it is the act of knowing that students have in their hands a piece of technology that, on top of smart phones, gives them the power to substitute not only pen and paper, but also professors, and ultimately an education worth thousands of dollars.
In the end, while most professors allow their students to use laptops in class, we as students are accountable for how we want to use them. When we make the choice to take our personal computers to class, we make the choice of how we want to use them. Let us not forget, however, that in doing so, we also make the choice of what we want to make of our education: a life-long asset, or a sad Facebook status with bad grammar.

Lesson Learned:Check!

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:09:49 +0000

Editor, The Tiger:

Over the past two weeks our beloved campus has seen a tide of student involvement that has no parallel in our few years on the Hill. The student assembly on the lawn on Venable forced the administration to recognize that a level of student discontent had finally been reached that could no longer be ignored. President Howard responded swiftly with an open session in which he offered explanations and the students offered both questions and criticisms of both a policy and the process by which the policy was created. The issues at hand were grave enough that a long standing Dean of our College found himself on an administrative leave the next morning. The campus calmed as our student leaders met with the administration and our concerns were apparently being addressed. With very little exception, the scene was proof of the solidarity of the brotherhood of Hampden-Sydney College and our own willingness to approach a difficult issue with civility.
On Sunday, March 4th we again heard a response from the administration that a certain Dean’s leave would end and he would return to his position in the same capacity. Regardless of your feelings for this last response, we cannot forget the lessons learned during our initial response. On a campus accused of being sleepy and inactive the students proved that beneath that exterior lies a heart deeply concerned with the well being of our beloved College. Our students and student leaders also proved that in a world filled with Occupy movements, partisanship, and ad hominem attacks there is still a place where a sense of community and honor trumps the radical tactics we see all around us. The initial response from the administration proved that a responsible student body, refraining from the tactics filling our national newsfeeds, is an effective student body. We proved that outrage can be voiced through means which prove vandalism, violence, and refusals to hear the other side as ineffective in the light of civil action and discourse.
As we move forward, it seems to me, we would do well not to forget the lessons we have learned so far. Remember that a united brotherhood of Hampden-Sydney men does not need to sully our good name by stooping to underhanded and dishonorable tactics. Remember that in the modern world few things are more surprising to our opponents than responsible consideration of positions we may detest. We have seen what we can do and we have seen that by honoring our traditions of gentlemanly conduct we can push back in an effective way. It may seem like nothing has changed, but what was shown on the Venable lawn that day was that the Hampden-Sydney man remains dedicated to serving his community and dedicated to doing so in a way that does not violate the principles he believes in.

Trays or No Trays: That Is the Question

A New H-SC Drug Policy Proposal

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:08:52 +0000

Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristics of Hampden-Sydney College, right behind the fact that it’s all male, is a culture of self governance and accountability exemplified by the honor code. Hampden-Sydney prides itself on a strong Honor Code that is internally enforced and promotes a culture of self accountability and self governance. Our honor code system is administered, enforced and adjudicated by students. The legal relationship we have with each other at Hampden-Sydney is truly special and is something to we should be no less than extremely be proud of. However, our self governing culture is being tested via conflict over a new drug policy.
A little over a week ago, Hampden-Sydney students gathered on the Venable laws to protest the administration’s overstep concerning the implementation of a draft drug policy. A policy that includes random mandatory drug testing for drug offenders at their expense is not something all students are comfortable supporting, especially when it’s coupled with punishments that don’t involve a trial or capacity to appeal a disciplinary decision, and was proposed in a questionable manner. Recent conversations about drug related deaths have raised questions about where Students’ personal responsibility ends and where institutional responsibility begins; ultimately, this conversation has lead us to question whether or not random drug testing is congruent with the kind of self-governing Hampden-Sydney brand we want to protect. Understandably, most students do not want to be subject to random drug testing while the administration does not want students using drugs.
In its current draft form, the drug policy proposal would subject students found guilty of using illegal substances (probably including those who seek help from a drug counselor since they have admitted to using drugs) to random drug testing, at his own expense, for an indeterminate amount of time. This proposal is certainly not delusional; in fact, random drug testing appears to have its merits. Certainly if I am drug user, and I know that the college can test me at any time, I certainly have a marginally lower incentive to resist drug use. While this policy might punish drug users more harshly, it does not encourage a cultural change towards lower drug abuse; instead it encourages students to be more discrete about drug abuse to avoid being caught the first time. Furthermore, it would reduce the incentive for other students to inform authorities of their friend’s substance abuse since the penalties are so much higher.
The policy would make it harder to be your brother’s keeper. Thus, I do not think it is an effective solution to the drug problem. If the current proposal were enacted, a student using drugs would have a marginally lower incentive to seek out help from an on campus substance abuse program since by doing so, he would label himself as a drug user and be subjected to random testing, (along with possible expulsion from the college without trial or appeal) for making just one mistake—getting caught using drugs one additional time.
Under the current proposal, any student seeking substance abuse help would walk in knowing that they have in effect committed to quitting drugs cold-turkey or face expulsion. Ultimately, random drug testing for all drug offenders would raise the costs of seeking help for a drug abuse problem and for helping friends with drug abuse problems, which will only entrench the culture of permissibility for drug abuse.
We can preserve the self-governing culture and personal accountability aspects of Hampden-Sydney student life while simultaneously encouraging a cultural change away from drug abuse by enacting a drug policy that one, offers drastically different punishments for those caught abusing drugs and those caught abusing drugs who are seeking help for substance abuse, and two, asks those who are seeking help for substance abuse to voluntarily enroll themselves in random drug testing as part of the substance abuse program.
Under this policy, students with legitimate substance abuse problems would be incentivized to seek out help for their problems since doing so would grantee them statutory protection from harsher punishments. At the same time, those serious about getting help for a substance abuse problem could reap the benefits of random drug testing by voluntarily signing up for it as part of the substance abuse program. This policy would align the incentives of administration and the students discourage substance abuse, protect students from mandatory random drug testing, while also helping the student justice system distinguish between those who are taking responsibility for substance abuse from those who are not.
As we negotiate a new drug policy we need to keep in mind that a successful policy will align incentives without sacrificing our strong institutional culture towards self governance. A drug policy that rewards students for seeking out help for substance abuse and giving them the option to voluntarily enroll themselves in a random drug testing program as part of a substance abuse program preserves Hampden-Sydney’s “come as boys, leave as men” culture.

A Convenient Time for Reform

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:07:41 +0000

The recent rally outside of Venable should be reason to reassess our current policies on student social life. Objections from those critical of the movement have claimed that the idea of self-responsibility among the student body has failed, and that we can’t effectively take care of ourselves. However, the real problem is more institutional than personal: we simply do not have many choices on-campus during the weekend. If we were given more choices, we can reignite a vivacious social atmosphere while also promoting safety.
Right now students on this campus generally have three options on the weekend: go to the frats, go out of town, or stay in your room. The fraternities are typically enjoyable, but as some students have complained in the past: they aren’t for everyone. Going out of town can be costly for many students and moreover does not contribute to the communal atmosphere of the school. And of course, the diminishing marginal effect of staying in your room sets in pretty quick without the presence of the fairer sex.
Given these limited options it’s easy to see how many students have grown cynical. Empty parking lots, reckless behavior, and general boredom have become common among the student body. However, if we can expand people’s choices into more legitimized areas we cannot only encourage safer behavior, but also a more vibrant social atmosphere.
First, people living in on-campus apartments should be able to fill out party forms just like fraternities. It’s no secret that many people living in the Blakes and other campus apartments have parties. Often times, people hosting these functions have to stay on constant watch since the campus police can always shut them down. By allowing these social functions to be legitimately recognized by the campus police, we could allow for greater responsibility while also allowing people to have more options on the weekend to best choose the function they find most fulfilling.
Furthermore, independent bunkers should be built. This idea has floated around before, but the concern has typically been: who will take care of them? A tragedy of the commons (or better yet tragedy of the Venable bathrooms) situation could surely occur if the bunkers are simply free and open to the public on weekends. However, if we allow on-campus clubs to rent the bunkers out, then we can effectively overcome the commons situation, as the clubs can be held responsible for any damage done to the bunker. Once again, this solution allows students to assume responsibility while also having greater choice.
It is misleading to fault individuals if they make poor choices, if their choices are restrained from the outset. We should seek to expand our choices on the weekends so that self-responsibility can truly flourish on this campus.

This Week on the Hill: A History of Unrest and Uprisings at H-SC

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:05:52 +0000

Often, Unrest will rear its head when the masses find that power is being used outside of its prescribed context—and little effort is shown to change the status quo. It is then that administrator (be they members of government or academia) finds himself in an iron skillet while the emotions of the many simmer and burn from below. The Hampden-Sydney campus is not a place completely unfamiliar to unrest among its student body. In light of recent campus events, it is worth a moment to look back at other times during the long life of the college when dissatisfaction transferred from word to action.
Ever wonder how Hampden-Sydney got its own fire department? Like most great things, it was born from necessity. It was March 28, 1957 when McIlwane Hall began to burn at 11pm, and according to John Luster Brinkley’s Hill History, there was a carnival atmosphere on campus. The building had been in disrepair for years and was an eyesore. The consensus was that the building needed to be demolished. Though there was agreement from the administration that the building should go, there was no marriage between deed and word. The cause of the fire was never adequately discovered, but when the building began to go smoke and burn there was no cry to save it from students on campus. In fact, the student population turned on the sinks and flushed. the toilets in Cushing. Some even stood on the hoses to make sure that the fire could not be put out to save the dilapidated structure. It was decided by the Farmville Fire Department that they would never to respond to fires on Hampden- Sydney campus ever again.
During the 1960s college campuses were rife with dissent and became staging grounds for demonstrations. Groups like the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) became well known during this time for their protests against the war in Vietnam. It might not be terribly surprising to learn that a protest did occur on this campus during the 60s. Students gathered and camped out on the lawn of Atkinson to protest against visitation rules that forbade female visitors from entering the dorms. During a time when fear of communism directed national policy without and paranoia divided countrymen within, it’s good to know that Hampden-Sydney students had their priorities straight.
Sometimes, word doesn’t need to move to deed. Voice might be strong enough. Some students might be interested to know that on November 14, 1795, the steward here was fired after many complaints from the student body about the quality of the food. Though the quality of the Commons’ food was a hotly debated issue, the event itself constitutes a time during which the student voice brought about change.
In light of the recent student uprising, it is easy to conclude that history has a tendency of repeating itself. When the administration appears to be dragging its feet to improve the livelihood of the College, the student body makes its voice heard. And it is our driving desire to simultaneously preserve tradition and improve the college that continues to push us into the future.

Singer Christopher Eaglin Performs at Parents & Friends

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:04:53 +0000

The phrase “You can go anywhere with a degree from Hampden-Sydney,” is tossed around a lot when people talk about life after college, but in the broader sense, one analyses this statement as a testament to the nature and quality of the instruction at HSC—a good liberal arts education. Christopher Eaglin got that same kind of schooling at Morehouse College where he graduated at the top of his class as the valedictorian. He went on from there to graduate from Oxford with a MPhil in development. According to his bio, Mr. Eaglin went from school to work in Africa as the regional director of business development for AES and was also worked for an international consulting firm focused on renewable energy, climate change, and natural resources. Mr. Eaglin became a successful member of his business community, but he came to a point in his life where he realized, “ … a very big part of [him] was missing.”
Throughout Eaglin’s youth, music had become a part of his life. He attributes his musical interests to his grandfather: “My grandfather was a jazz musician… he was my most forceful advocate of music.” However, “When he died, I was nineteen, and I stopped.” Well, Mr. Eaglin decided that it was time for him to pursue his former interests, and over the recent years he has become an accomplished operatic tenor. His resume within the arts has grown rapidly and immensely.
His radical career change didn’t happen without proper preparation. His liberal arts education at Morehouse taught him lessons that would follow him much later in life. He said, unfortunately, Morehouse didn’t have a large arts program while he was there, but he also said, “What Morehouse gave me was that if I work hard there is nothing that I can’t do.” The liberal arts education that Mr. Eaglin got at Morehouse followed him throughout life and helped him follow the path that he ultimately choose to go down. The goal of Hampden Sydney students is to also attain that specialized education that will allow and enable them to be able to follow what they truly want to do, and Mr. Eaglin is an example of how people can go anywhere with a liberal arts degree—even from Africa to the opera stage.
As of now Mr. Eaglin has advanced his singing career to magnificent levels in a short amount of time. He has performed not only throughout the US, but also in Europe and Africa and has accumulated many awards and recognitions. His skill was greatly exhibited this past Thursday night in Parents’ and Friends’ Lounge. Mr. Eaglin, accompanied by Robert Kopelson on piano, preformed a number of varied solos— many different pieces from Schubert to African-American spirituals. His performance and program for the night demonstrated the stages of an emerging young adult: choosing one’s path in life, love, and reflection and spirituality. Needless to say, his delivery was flawless and beautiful.

Art Expert Christopher Apostle Speaks at H-SC

Chi Phi Colony Continues to Push Forward

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:03:42 +0000

Recently, a group of students formed the Chi Phi colony on campus. The process of a group of interested members forming a colony, and later a chapter, for a fraternity involves many different parties that all have a role in the progression. This information comes from David Klein, Dean of Students at Hampden-Sydney College. Klein goes on to say that the colony has been given recognition on the national level, but has yet to be recognized by the school because the Interfraternity Council has not voted on the matter as of now. Dean Klein also went on to say that recently the Chi Phi colony was associated with an act or acts that involve “…some activities that are not permitted by the college, nor are they permitted by the national office.”
The Dean said that, “The colony extended bids to some new prospective members, and in doing so got a little ahead of themselves.” The aforementioned activities that were not permitted were a result of the mistake of their giving bids, said Dean Klein. The specifics of the incident have not yet been released because final decisions have not been made, but Will Correll ’13, Alpha of the Chi Phi colony, said about the matter: “We did misunderstand the bid process, which was one of the original problems; however, other issues came to light with the school that we are dealing with.”
As a result, actions are being taken and decisions are being made by all parties. Dean Klein said that the college has communicated to the colony that there is to be no pledge activities or organizational functions until this is resolved. Dean Klein also mentioned an investigation that is being undertaken by Officer Thomas J. Travis, who is one of the campus security officers.
The national office is also going to be making some decisions of its own. According to Correll, the national board will meet on March 10th outside of Atlanta, and the Hampden-Sydney Chi Phi colony will probably have representation there. Correll assures that the national meeting is a prescheduled, timely meeting, not one that has been especially called for this matter. They will discuss the issues and come to a resolution. Dean Klein asserted that the college and the national offices of various fraternities usually follow and agree on a similar path of action.
Correll said that the colony has twenty-seven members and strong support from Chi Phi alumni who have been involved in the establishment of the colony thus far. Dean Klein is hopeful that things will end up well for the colony: “We are optimistic about the future and look forward to being able to work through these issues with the school and learn from our mistakes and move on and be a well respected entity on this campus.” The nature of the consequences for the Chi Phi colony remain to be seen and will remain hidden until after the March 10th meeting.