When
we look at a student, what is it that we infer? What are our thoughts that
conjure forth
a
set of tinted shades? The following is an excerpt from an interview conducted
by myself
on
Feburary 7, 2013. The subject is a “continuing student”.
Their
experience, thus far, consists of a clear separation between the academic
and
administration sectors of BSC; the academic sector fosters a friendly, engaging
environment.
However, the administration support, e.g., student affairs, health service,
is
“hostile.” Such hostilities experienced by the individual include comments made
from
administrative
staff as, “Drop out of school”, due to financial reasons, for older students
tend
to have more deductions, and financial assets. The student notes that financial
aid
is
structured to deal with the “traditional student” needs, and not for
“continuing students.”
Student
affairs, such as health insurance--more particularly the health insurance fee
at
BSC--do
not accord with the Obamacare initiative. The fee is $2000 and, as the student
notes,
“is age-specific.” Furthermore, the student notes that, “The College needs to
start
addressing
the health fee policy so to accord with the Obamacare initiative. Also, the
student
went to the student affairs office to seek assistance in terms of his/her
financial
standing,
which they replied, “You should move to South Carolina to live with your
sister.
The
student feels that such a statement stems from a commitment by the said campus
entities
to be “selective”, only serving the need of the general traditional student
population.
This
also may suggest that the student should become someone else’s problem.
What
a calamity we live in and have to witness. Man striking down man for
superficial
reasons.
No wonder there is so many tinted shades when the sky is light, and dark.
Signed, Adonis.T.W.Kernen
