To those students who are cynically discouraged by the staff atThe University of Memphis, there is hope.
Following my column on the "ghetto dorms" of The U of M, Ireceived a call from the secretary of the associate dean (AD) ofResidence Life. She left a message on my answering machine thatsaid the dean wanted a meeting and asked me to call her back, butshe failed to mention anything about what the meeting would beabout.
Had my dorm payment been missed? Was he going to blame me forthe sewage overflow I now regard as a weekly highlight in my dormroom?
I was very apprehensive but agreed to a meeting at the end ofthe week -- when I had a break from my four jobs.
Meeting with the AD was much like a visit to the principal'soffice back in high school after you were caught smoking in thebathroom. I went to the front desk, was told to sit down, and theAD eventually came to greet me after a few minutes.
I was greeted with a handshake and walked to the back conferenceroom, where we were greeted by his assistant. We sat down at thetable. I was ready to deny everything.
"I read your column," the AD said, folding his hands on thetable.
Now I knew what this was all about. I prepared for his denial ofmy accounts and the criticism of my writing. But instead, I got anapology and an interested ear. He genuinely wanted to hear aboutthe problems with the dorms because it had apparently not reachedhis attention that we were living in substandard conditions.
I began the account, rolling through all of the issues with mydorm experience. I made sure to inform him that the socialexperience of the dorm was spectacular -- I wasn't criticizingthat. I was criticizing a need for maintenance.
"Stuff breaks," I said. "That's bound to happen. It's just whenit stays broken that I have a problem with it."
The AD was ready for action toward the end of the conversation,armed with the notes his assistant had been steadily taking as wetalked.
I was impressed with the mature response, considering I was usedto dealing with the most immature responses with the otherworkers.
When it comes to accomplishing things on campus, in every walkwe, as students, often find ourselves talking to employed humanwalls. It's bound to happen.
But before we throw in the towel and give up on the hope ofintelligent life, remember -- there are those who know whatcriticism is about and who know problems should be fixed.
Raise your voice as a student, and make sure you're heard if youhave a problem. Not everyone on campus has the IQ of a carrot.
