Josh ([info]burdenofdreams) wrote in [info]oberlin,
@ 2005-09-07 19:33:00
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2 unrelated questions
I heard rumors the new dorms aren't ready because they forgot to run gas lines to the site and that currently the houses can't provide hot water, gas stoves, etc. Can anyone confirm this?

Does anyone know who has been working with the so called anti-walmart crew from town on petition signing against Walmart on campus? Is it a student group? I fear that the folks involved in this are being really misled and I'd like to talk with them.

Any info on any of these questions would be much appreciated. Oh, and what are these white wires coming from people's ears? It freaks my puppy out.

(Post a new comment)


[info]epeolatry
2005-09-08 12:12 am UTC (link)
if you want reliable information about Union St. housing, you should get in touch w/ Molly Tyson @ Res Ed, or Chuck Turner--i believe you can reach him thru facilities.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]burdenofdreams
2005-09-08 01:53 am UTC (link)
Thanks.

I am doubtful I'd get a straight answer just because if it is that gas lines weren't connected, then its the kind of screw up no one would ever admit. it's kind of like the equivalent of forgetting to put wings on your airplane. From Robotar's post below, it sounds like that's what happened.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]epeolatry
2005-09-08 12:13 am UTC (link)
edited to add: i'm the village & co-operative housing director, which makes me the "RD" of Union St, but i can't even answer your questions. I have heard all kinds of rumors about the new housing, and can't confirm or deny anything.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2005-09-08 01:20 am UTC (link)
Did you know that your presence on this community is really disruptive? I think this is a place where Oberlin students should feel free to be open and not worry about being reprimanded by the administration. I think everyone is probably now worried about posting anything that Reslife might be upset about and it's never been like that before. Let us students be students. I think I'll start a new community for Oberlin students that administration people can't join. As long as you go around talking about the rules, you're not of the Oberlin community. You're above it. And I think this community should be for the Oberlin community.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]mogwit
2005-09-08 01:38 am UTC (link)
I don't really feel that's fair. To my knowledge, Becca has never ratted on or reprimanded anyone here. She gives helpful suggestions and does not report to Reslife. Unless I'm gigantically mistaken, she gets annoyed with them too.
And you sign anonymously!
Sigh.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]stadtpfeiffer
2005-09-08 01:45 am UTC (link)
I don't feel like she was trying to shove questions through the proper channels or trying to be a super-important Reslife minion; she was pointing people towards answers and even supporting us by noting that she's not in the loop either. The presence of administration employees in this forum is a separate matter, though from what I can see Becca continues to be a helpful member.
-David

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]shannonmc
2005-09-08 01:47 am UTC (link)
does anyone actually worry about upsetting reslife? i think everyone pretty much bitches about them all the time with no concern of whether or not it'll hurt their feelings. i do, for sure.

the oberlin community is made up of not only students. people who make this school happen are also included. even the people in reslife who provide us with a place to live for 3/4 of the year.

would you prefer speculation and rumors?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]infidel
2005-09-08 02:06 pm UTC (link)
well put

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[info]burdenofdreams
2005-09-08 01:49 am UTC (link)
Chill. It's only September. I'll leave your definition of community alone and just say I appreciate the multitude of perspectives - plus I wouldn't be able to join your students only community and I like reading what people have to say.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]maiortrud
2005-09-08 01:59 am UTC (link)
oh whatever, she's in charge of the co-ops, not dorms, and she's awesome and laid back. i'd be shocked if she ratted on anybody.

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[info]pontiuspilates
2005-09-08 02:44 am UTC (link)
If Becca ever ratted anyone out, I'd be shocked.

Besides, it isn't like the other students on this community don't already make each other feel uncomfortable fairly frequently. Like the Great Smoothie Drama, or the Anonymous Thread of Tears and Recriminations.

Jesus Fucking Christ. The community page says it's for all members of the Oberlin community. It's a fuckin' LJ community, not some treehouse with a plywood sign that says No Girls Allowed.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]shesaidguernica
2005-09-08 03:39 am UTC (link)
Becca has always been helpful and is just fucking awesome in general.

and P.S>
Its ResED

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[info]ilunas
2005-09-08 04:52 am UTC (link)
Putting aside the fact that it is impossible to keep people out of a LJ community for real, I think this is really unfair. Personally, I think Becca is the most decent person working for the college, and would never do what you think--and she's been posting here for over a year. There are lots of administration folks to distrust, but she isn't one of them at all. But that's beside the point as well. The point is that the Oberlin community is not just a student community, it's for everyone!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]tgeller
2005-09-08 06:24 pm UTC (link)
Welcome to the open society. Get used to it, you're an adult now.

Snideness aside, your idea of starting a students-only LJ is a good one. Best of luck with it.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
nosy you
(Anonymous)
2005-09-08 04:54 am UTC (link)
Here's what all Union Street residents were sent by Molly Tyson, grammatical mistakes, spelling mistakes, and all. Note the impressive comma use in the first sentence. Priceless.

"Hello All,
I am, writing to provide you with the latest information from Facility
Planning and Construction regarding some concerns students have had
about the Union Street Apartments.

1. Hot Water - The contracting plumbers are currently working on the
hot water issue and will hopefully be resolved by Friday. Many of you
should be able to get hot water by running the faucet for 10 - 15
minutes. There is a temporary water heating system in place that is
not working as efficiently as was expected. Once this is resolved by
Friday, you should hat hot water readily available.

2. Internet - After speaking with CIT today, they will be completing
the Internet connections to all buildings by Thursday.

3. Microwaves - Microwaves will be provided in each apartment and will
be installed/delivered by the end of September.

4. Blinds/Shades - Temporary shades have been installed in all first
floor apartments and will be installed in the 2nd and 3rd floor
apartments for 126, 110, 102, and 96 Union Streets and 272 Goldsmith
Drive. Permanent blinds should be installed in all apartments by the
end of September.

5. Construction - Three buildings are still under construction at the
site. Please use caution when walking through the area. Construction
will begin each day at 8:00 AM and end at 5:00 PM.

6. Bike Racks - Unsheltered bike racks will be installed in front of
each building on natural stone patios by the end of September.

7. RCR - Please return your RCR for your apartment to the Office of
Residential Education as soon as possible. THis will be used by the
contractors t make sure that there are no additional items already on
their punch list that need fixed. A schedule will be sent out to you
regarding when the contractors will be in your apartments to fix items
on the punch list or your RCR.

If you have any questions, please let us know. We thank you for your
patience and understanding in opening these new buildings.

Thank you,

Molly

Molly J. Tyson
Associate Dean/Director of Residential Education
155 North Professor Street
Stevenson Hall - Griswold Commons
phone: 440-775-8472
fax: 440-775-8149"

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: nosy you
[info]burdenofdreams
2005-09-08 10:50 am UTC (link)
Awesome letter. I like the suggested idea of running the faucet for 15 minutes so you can get hot water. Maybe you can burn tires if it gets brisk this Fall.

I had no idea they named one of the streets after Peter. While I know he supported more people living on campus, I can only remember how uncomfortable he looked when advocating in front of City Council for the size and siteing of these and the proposed ones behind Johnson House.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]epeolatry
2005-09-08 05:06 am UTC (link)
first, thanks to those who spoke highly and kindly of me. i appreciate the love & respect that i feel from many of you on a daily basis.

secondly, i just want to say that the name of this community is Oberlin, not Oberlin College or Oberlin College STUDENTS. In general, if someone wants to start a private community for students, by all means, please go ahead and do so. one of the things that is so great about this community is that it includes anyone who wants to be a part of it. prospective students use this community, and they're not students yet, so if you want to exclude faculty/staff or other non-students, you should exclude prospective students as well.

third, i agree w/ [info]mogwit. that was a mouthful to say anonymously.

one of the reasons i choose to participate in this community is that i feel that it gives me a chance to connect w/ more students than i see in my office on a daily basis, and through that chance, more often than not, i am able to provide accurent & reliable answers to questions about Res Ed & from time to time, OSCA related stuff in a timely & easy to access manner. if folks would rather make assumptions about storage hours and things like that, feel free.

if nothing else, i participate to serve as a resource who is able and willing to direct folks to the right people when i can't answer something myself. i see nothing disruptive or disrespectful about that.

if a majority of regular participants asked me to disappear, i would gladly do so. but until that happens, perhaps a student-only "gated" community is more what you, anonymous, are looking for.

if someone were to post something that i thought was really dangerous (i.e. drugs for sale), i would report that sort of activity. i have never seen anything that seemed that heinous and unsafe posted on here. i think that in general, people are smart and respectful enough to know that this isn't the right forum for that sort of thing.

people should know that i am not the only administrator who reads these public pages. i just choose to be upfront about it by participating in the discussions. that's my choice.

thanks for reading this long-winded response... i wish you all the best in this first week of classes, and i hope you will all be safe this weekend. :)

xoxo

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Becca-
[info]pseudoyoink
2005-09-08 12:23 pm UTC (link)
thanks for being up-front with the community. It seems to me (having seen your comments elsewhere too) that you've been nothing if not a positive force here.

And on the note of the function of this community: there are several alumni, myself and [Unknown LJ tag] included, who still read and comment regularly, even though posts about "I want to sell my Ipod," textbook sales, or ferret playdates pretty much just take up space on our friendspages. At least for me, staying connected to Oberlin in some small, immediate way like this is a really good thing, and I'd be rather saddened if the community board shifted to a more exclusive mode.

-Nate '04

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Becca-
[info]epeolatry
2005-09-08 12:45 pm UTC (link)
thanks... and i was thinking of the alumni too when i responded about a community that would be for students only...

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]bigtyper
2005-09-08 04:01 pm UTC (link)
speaking of microwaves, there's no way it would be possible to get one in an Asia House apartment, is there? 'Cuz we moved in and there's an obvious space for one, but no money for one. Just putting it out there.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]epeolatry
2005-09-08 08:15 pm UTC (link)
I don't know if microwaves are permitted in Asia Quad apartments--you should contact Sherri.Shaw@oberlin.edu, the director of Program Houses to find out if they are permitted.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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