EDITORIAL: Listen

The administration should takeThe administration should takeheed of what students are sayingThe administration should takeheed of what students are sayingabout assigned housing Tomorrow night, we will witness another chapter in the neverending series of endless debates, forums and town meetings that add to the hot air content on campus. Tomorrow night, the administration will once again humor student-leader- types by listening to "suggestions" and "concerns" and then doing whatever it wants to. That's what will happen, unless students take a stand, march down to Wharton and give administrators a piece of their mind. The Commission recommended "assigned housing" be implemented for all first-year students. This means freshmen will no longer have a choice in housing. Many students, like UA representative Mosi Bennett, fear this could also mean the end of W.E.B. Du Bois College House and similar programs. On the other hand, many students feel assigned housing will help foster better race relations and understanding. Either way, this issue needs to be discussed. Students need to be made aware of the implications of the issues. This decision should not be made behind closed doors, but rather it should be a result of intelligent debate. We therefore salute the United Minorities Council for organizing this forum and we urge administrators to pay close attention to what is said. The last time the University decided to ignore student sentiment it became the object of national ridicule in the racial harassment policy fiasco. We hope this time, they will pay more than lip service. At the same time, it is crucial that students let their voices be heard. The administration can ignore UMC chair Jun Bang and six or seven of her fellow student-leader-types. Hundreds of students eager to speak their mind won't be as easily blown off. We urge everyone who has something to say about assigned housing to be there tonight. Room 350, Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. 8:30 p.m.