Oberlin Review (Oberlin, Ohio), 1985-10-04

              Oberlin Review VOIUML Hi NUMBER 4 FRIDAY OCTOBER 4 1985 B1R1JNH1 wH r l i V Irifiwv n V AlPf7 Retention is low here study says One in four doesnt graduate By LINDA REEDER Review Stat Writer IICVICVV I vi I C 3 1 WW Students marched in favor of divestment last Friday when the trustees met here for a nonaction session Abusua members were however allowed to present a speech before the trustees Walton demands divestment Admitted to closed session By GEOFFREY BREWER Review Senior News Editor Although the Trusteesnonaction meeting last Friday was closed the doors were opened briefly to five Abusua members who demanded that Oberlin divest of its South Africarelated stocks We feel that Oberlin iscontradicting its tradition bymaintaining investments in corporations that do business in South Africa said senior Calvin Walton in a prepared statement Walton iscochair of the Executive Council of Abusua the black studentorganization Oberlin can make a positive contribution to the fight against apartheid by demonstrating to the South African government that threats to divest are serious Walton said He added thatfinancial repercussions fromdivestment are minimal But he said the decision to divest will have significantrepercussions on the image portrayed by Oberlin to the public This is especially true in lieu of the negative publicity we received because of Ohio StateUniversitys recent decision to divest of nearly 11 million in SouthAfricarelated stocks Immediately following Waltons statement Trustee John Elder announced in a press conference that the Boards Social andPolitical Concerns Committee SPCC was to meet that day with student leaders see story p 10 The SPCC met last evening and initiated a further review of Oberlins policy in light of changing circumstances in South Africa said Elder who chairs the advisory committee Before addressing the Board at the Oberlin Inn Walton read the Abusua statement to student demonstrators gathered on the lawn outside See ABUSUA p 10 More students leave Oberlin without graduating than leave comparable schools according to a recent report Within six years 73 percent of white students earn degrees here as compared to 8095 percent at similar schools said Robert Panos of DevelopmentalServices who prepared the report Roughly 63 percent of minority students earn degrees here within six years the report said This figure is similar to comparable schools and well above thenational retention rate The report concedes that accurate figures are difficult to obtain owing to limitedinformation and the ambiguous nature of statistics Panos director of SpecialServices and assistant to the dean of Developmental Services said the fouryear graduation rate at Oberlin is 50 percent While at six years a classs overallgraduation rate peaks the minority class peaks at eight years he said Students withdrawpermanently from Oberlin for acombination of reasons includingfinancial academic and sqcial problems Many students cite financial problems as a major cause for withdrawal While all students are affected by tighter financial aid and government loans some argue minority students are hit particularly hard The majority of our black students who leave will leave for financial reasons or take off time to work completing their degrees after six years said Mittie Jordan assistant director of admissions and coordinator of minority admissions Director of Admissions Carl Bewig attributed the relatively poor retention rate amongminority students in part to theincreasing percentage of first generation minorities The whole collegegoingexperience is a new one for many minorities which brings added difficulties and pressures Bewig said In addition second and thirdgeneration college students parents have greateropportunity for employment because of their education and are therefore better prepared to pay theOberlin tuition The financial issue definitely has to be addressed further said Jordan I would much rather enroll 35 black students and see them through four years at Oberlin than 100 that we cant retain Financial Aid Director James White said that most minority students do not withdraw for financial reasons He went through a list of the 29 black students in the class of 85 who did not graduate showing that only six were requested to leave by the Bursars Office while three of these six had not even applied for financial aid But Panos said finances are a key issue in retention of both See RETENTION p 10 Few cast ballots in Council election By MARY FLETCHER JONES and FELICE BELMAN Senior Isabelle Selassie juniors Roger Freeman and Scott Haldeman and sophomore Lisa Portes were elected to the Executive Council this week despite a low voter turnout Students cast 804 ballots inelections held Monday through Wednesday comprising a turnout of roughly 30 percent of th student body The Councils 1979constitution requires a minimum of 25percent for an election to beconsidered valid Voter turnout was significantly lower than last years election which produced the mostparticipation in the Councils sixyear history with 1104 students voting and a candidate field of 15 Only seven ran for the four open seats this year This is disappointing and I really have no idea as to the reasons for it said last years Council Chair Jeff Goldwasser who is serving as student advisor this year Goldwasser spent much of his week handing out ballots in the mailroom encouraging students to vote Get Jeff Goldwasser out of the mailroom he shouted sporadically Vote for Exec Council Candidates statements were hung in the mailroom and five candidates participated in an open forum Sunday expressing their views on various student concerns and on the Council itself Portes focused her statements on curricular problems and on what the Council can do to help alleviate them Theater and Dance students are trying to keep their program together and the same thing is true for Womens Studies she said The purpose of Exec Council is to focus these ideas and present them to theadministration Freeman who was not present at the forum earlier said the Council should strive to represent the entire study body He said publicity of Council actions must be increased and the body must be more in touch with the average student Almost all the candidates touched on the issue of apartheid and Oberlins financial ties to South Africa My personal project is South African divestment I feel this is going to happen this year said Selassie Only the trustees are left Portes said divestment was a question of morality versus practicality Its a moral issue she said and a school like Oberlin has no business in a country like South Africa Responsibilities include approving charters for new student organizations appointing members to the StudentAppointments Committee and leading student communication with Oberlin alumni and trustees In addition Executive Council represents student opinion to the administration and has a voice at General Faculty meetings Council responsibilities are effective immediately and members will choose a chair within the next three weeks INSIDE The Review Cleveland Orchestra You could almost feel Brahms struggling at last weeks Cleveland Orchestra concert page 6 Pat Day Gothic novels is pervaded by the problem of sexualidentity says Professor Day page 9 Mens Soccer Freshmen shined as theYeomen posted two wins this week 21 and 30 page 10