We, the student body of St. Josephs College, believe that the rules and regulations that have been put in to place in the 2nd floor lounge and cafeteria are not only demeaning and belittling but also unnecessary and preposterous. As the student body of St. Josephs college, we hold the five pillars above all. These pillars are service, intellectual values, spiritual values, social responsibility, and integrity. St.. Joseph's College was founded on these pillars, and strives every day to uphold them to the highest honor. These rules and regulations and the action taken to enforce them refute the foundation of these values.
We, very reasonably, would like a place in this college to relax and unwind. Unfortunately, with these rules in place, students feel uncomfortable sitting in the cafeteria and the 2nd floor lounge. As a consequence for "disobeying" these rules, brand new ottomans were removed from our student lounge.We would like to include the definition of an ottman in this petition. Dictionary.com defines an ottoman as"a low upholstered seat, or footstool, without a back or arms that typically serves also as a box, with the seat hinged to form a lid" There are also rules in the cafeteria that say sitting/leaning on the tables is a violation of the SJC Code of Conduct. In the code of conduct, section three, article F, it states;
F. Destruction of Property
Minimum sanction: Probation; Maximum sanction: Suspension.
No student may intentionally damage, deface or destroy College property or that of any other person while
on campus or while using College related premises. No student may litter or place graffiti on walls, doors,
furniture or other property while on campus or while using College-related premises.
After reading the entire code of conduct, this was the closest violation that could be related to leaning/sitting on a table and or putting feet on furniture. NOT ONCE in the code of conduct is it mentioned that putting your feet and up and/or sitting of the tables is a "destruction, damage to, or defacing of College property". These rules were created with the intention to keep these areas clean and comfortable for students and staff to use and enjoy. The implementation of these rules has in turn, caused students to feel uncomfortable in a school they are paying tuition to attend. The placement of feet on furniture or sitting/leaning on a table is NOT a violation of the SJC Code of Conduct, and therefore cannot be enforced as such.
We are frustrated that our school has become a place where we no longer feel comfortable. We are disheartened with the way we are treated and spoken to by college administration. As college students attending St. Joseph's to grow as successful individuals and learn in a healthy environment, we will not stand for such disrespect. We are educated, honorable students of this college, we deserve to be treated as such. The distrust these rules bring upon us from administration leads us to believe they do not see us as upholding the pillars this college was founded on. We are esse non videri, to be and not to seem to be. We are what makes St. Joseph's College so great. Let us join together to make SJC a better place and make all students feel comfortable and welcomed instead of patronized and punished. Together, we can make a change; we can make SJC our home away from home once again.
Updates
December 1, 2016
The administration thought they could bury these insulting rules in the fine print and ignore us. This surge in support proves they are dead wrong and that we refuse to let them treat our lounge like a prison.
Reached 100 supporters
December 1, 2016
29 Comments
I think us human beings are decent enough that if our sneakers/shoes/etc are dirty (ex: the rainy weather) we will not put our dirty feet on the ottomans. However this is called a "lounge." We pay thousands to attend your beloved college, if we want to relax after a stressful day of classes or before an incoming stressful day of classes, we should be allowed to. We shouldn't be belittled over something as little as putting our feet on a footstool. I think for a member of the SJC staff to touch a student's broken foot just to put a piece of paper underneath it clearly has a desire to hold power over us. Don't you have IMPORTANT things to do? Because I'm sure you are not getting paid to bully the SJC community.
Dr. Howell has gone so far as to physically lift my foot while elevated on an ottoman in the lounge and while in a soft cast to put a sheet of blank copy paper underneath so that my cast wasn't in direct contact with the ottoman. It's laughably ridiculous the rules she's trying to implement!
As someone who is in their senior year, I am sad to see these types of changes being implemented on campus. In my first three years at SJC, I was never told how I should behave, yet I have not once broken the code of conduct. I hope that the school realizes this is not in the best interest of its students.
As an alumnae this is very disheartening to hear. This was my second home when I attended. I understand not all the schools staff is making these changes and it is more like one person pressing certain issues, but it's taking away from our small community.
Having these ottomans taken away was a complete violation of our rights, and completely unnecessary. In addition, putting those signs up was rude, and diminishes our value as students. Being a commuter school, we should have the right to have the comfort of our "home away from home," and we can no longer have that anymore. I am signing this petition to have those signs removed, and get our ottomans back. Ottomans' purpose is to use as a footrest. In addition, the chairs are uncomfortable to begin with in the cafeteria, and now the fact that we can't lean on the tables makes no sense, and will just cause more discomfort. We want St. Joseph's to go back to the amazing features it had before this all happened. Thank you.
Very well spoken!
As an alumni, I am saddened to see the direction St. Joseph's College is taking. This college was a welcoming community that fostered student involvement and growth. That welcoming atmosphere is one of the reasons students choose to attend. Over the last couple of years, the focus has shifted away from the current students and toward campus appearance, alumni events and the centennial celebration. Campus beautification including the quad and the student lounge is a great idea. However, what good is it if the STUDENTS can't hold events on the quad or relax in the lounge? College wide events have decreased over the last couple of years and student attendance (at the events still held) has plummeted. Administration needs to recreate the welcoming community, decrease all the rigid rules and let these college students have a fun, positive, learning experience inside and outside the classroom!
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We, the student body of St. Josephs College, believe that the rules and regulations that have been put in to place in the 2nd floor lounge and cafeteria are not only demeaning and belittling but also unnecessary and preposterous. As the student body of St. Josephs college, we hold the five pillars above all. These pillars are service, intellectual values, spiritual values, social responsibility, and integrity. St.. Joseph's College was founded on these pillars, and strives every day to uphold them to the highest honor. These rules and regulations and the action taken to enforce them refute the foundation of these values.
We, very reasonably, would like a place in this college to relax and unwind. Unfortunately, with these rules in place, students feel uncomfortable sitting in the cafeteria and the 2nd floor lounge. As a consequence for "disobeying" these rules, brand new ottomans were removed from our student lounge.We would like to include the definition of an ottman in this petition. Dictionary.com defines an ottoman as"a low upholstered seat, or footstool, without a back or arms that typically serves also as a box, with the seat hinged to form a lid" There are also rules in the cafeteria that say sitting/leaning on the tables is a violation of the SJC Code of Conduct. In the code of conduct, section three, article F, it states;
F. Destruction of Property
Minimum sanction: Probation; Maximum sanction: Suspension.
No student may intentionally damage, deface or destroy College property or that of any other person while
on campus or while using College related premises. No student may litter or place graffiti on walls, doors,
furniture or other property while on campus or while using College-related premises.
After reading the entire code of conduct, this was the closest violation that could be related to leaning/sitting on a table and or putting feet on furniture. NOT ONCE in the code of conduct is it mentioned that putting your feet and up and/or sitting of the tables is a "destruction, damage to, or defacing of College property". These rules were created with the intention to keep these areas clean and comfortable for students and staff to use and enjoy. The implementation of these rules has in turn, caused students to feel uncomfortable in a school they are paying tuition to attend. The placement of feet on furniture or sitting/leaning on a table is NOT a violation of the SJC Code of Conduct, and therefore cannot be enforced as such.
We are frustrated that our school has become a place where we no longer feel comfortable. We are disheartened with the way we are treated and spoken to by college administration. As college students attending St. Joseph's to grow as successful individuals and learn in a healthy environment, we will not stand for such disrespect. We are educated, honorable students of this college, we deserve to be treated as such. The distrust these rules bring upon us from administration leads us to believe they do not see us as upholding the pillars this college was founded on. We are esse non videri, to be and not to seem to be. We are what makes St. Joseph's College so great. Let us join together to make SJC a better place and make all students feel comfortable and welcomed instead of patronized and punished. Together, we can make a change; we can make SJC our home away from home once again.
Updates
December 1, 2016
The administration thought they could bury these insulting rules in the fine print and ignore us. This surge in support proves they are dead wrong and that we refuse to let them treat our lounge like a prison.
Reached 100 supporters
December 1, 2016
29 Comments
I have been yelled at numerous times for "leaning" on a cafeteria table. This is ridiculous.
I think us human beings are decent enough that if our sneakers/shoes/etc are dirty (ex: the rainy weather) we will not put our dirty feet on the ottomans. However this is called a "lounge." We pay thousands to attend your beloved college, if we want to relax after a stressful day of classes or before an incoming stressful day of classes, we should be allowed to. We shouldn't be belittled over something as little as putting our feet on a footstool. I think for a member of the SJC staff to touch a student's broken foot just to put a piece of paper underneath it clearly has a desire to hold power over us. Don't you have IMPORTANT things to do? Because I'm sure you are not getting paid to bully the SJC community.
Dr. Howell has gone so far as to physically lift my foot while elevated on an ottoman in the lounge and while in a soft cast to put a sheet of blank copy paper underneath so that my cast wasn't in direct contact with the ottoman. It's laughably ridiculous the rules she's trying to implement!
As someone who is in their senior year, I am sad to see these types of changes being implemented on campus. In my first three years at SJC, I was never told how I should behave, yet I have not once broken the code of conduct. I hope that the school realizes this is not in the best interest of its students.
As an alumnae this is very disheartening to hear. This was my second home when I attended. I understand not all the schools staff is making these changes and it is more like one person pressing certain issues, but it's taking away from our small community.
Having these ottomans taken away was a complete violation of our rights, and completely unnecessary. In addition, putting those signs up was rude, and diminishes our value as students. Being a commuter school, we should have the right to have the comfort of our "home away from home," and we can no longer have that anymore. I am signing this petition to have those signs removed, and get our ottomans back. Ottomans' purpose is to use as a footrest. In addition, the chairs are uncomfortable to begin with in the cafeteria, and now the fact that we can't lean on the tables makes no sense, and will just cause more discomfort. We want St. Joseph's to go back to the amazing features it had before this all happened. Thank you.
Very well spoken!
As an alumni, I am saddened to see the direction St. Joseph's College is taking. This college was a welcoming community that fostered student involvement and growth. That welcoming atmosphere is one of the reasons students choose to attend. Over the last couple of years, the focus has shifted away from the current students and toward campus appearance, alumni events and the centennial celebration. Campus beautification including the quad and the student lounge is a great idea. However, what good is it if the STUDENTS can't hold events on the quad or relax in the lounge? College wide events have decreased over the last couple of years and student attendance (at the events still held) has plummeted. Administration needs to recreate the welcoming community, decrease all the rigid rules and let these college students have a fun, positive, learning experience inside and outside the classroom!
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I have been yelled at numerous times for "leaning" on a cafeteria table. This is ridiculous.