Editorial: On the Changes to the Community Living Policy

On Sept. 16, the news broke in the college-wide GroupMe that Amherst was planning on disposing of the individual fridges and microwaves that come with each dorm at the end of the spring semester. This news was found buried within the 89-page Student Code of Conduct and was uncovered to strong outrage. Per the new policy, students may provide their own refrigerator for personal use, but personal microwaves will be disallowed entirely, with students only able to use College-issued microwaves in communal kitchens. Students were justifiably confused and angry, as the decision — presented without justification — seemed arbitrary, especially in the midst of Amherst’s rising tuition costs.

Information about whether fridges and microwaves would be available via accommodations to students with dietary restrictions was not included in the Student Code of Conduct. In the section of the code banning air conditioners, an exception is made for units provided by the college through Student Accessibility Services. That no similar caveat was made in the code for microwaves raises concerns for students with food allergies and dietary restrictions that may make the use of a communal microwave unfeasible. The announcement of the new fridge and microwave policy exclusively through the Student Code of Conduct, without external notification, does not suggest that the college intended to open a conversation with students on the issue, despite the need for clarification around how the policy will be implemented for students with accessibility needs.

The Editorial Board argues that the college owes the student body greater transparency in communicating new policies. The administration’s decisions often seem random and unresponsive to students’ actual needs, and we as students lack the information necessary to understand such changes. This lack of transparency suggests that the administration believes students would not be responsive to this information, even if it were to be given, and that is a belief that the student body bears some responsibility for.

It is the students’ responsibility to read emails and inform themselves of the happenings of the college. A lack of attendance at the Board of Trustees town hall reflects poorly on the active engagement of the student body and the willingness of students to work to understand the inner workings of the college.

However, placing a major decision that affects virtually all returning students in the midst of a nearly 90-page document does not align with the Amherst administration’s aims of clear communication. Realistically, few students will take the time to pore through all the pages of a lengthy document detailing the minutiae of college policy, and a brief summary of policy changes that students should be aware of, alongside the rationale behind major changes, would contribute to greater mutual understanding between the administration and the students.

Similarly, the administration did not openly communicate the opt-out option for the new Amherst College Textbooks program, generating frustration amongst the student body as the pilot year of the program was rife with issues. Students were not unaware of the need for the program and the administration’s goal of promoting equity within the classroom for low-income students. However, that does not negate the fact that its rocky execution created a situation where students felt unable to make the most informed decision regarding their finances for the upcoming school year. All the available options should be transparently presented to students, even when administrators may not agree with the way that students use that information.

The administration and the students must be willing to meet halfway in order to create a campus community that collaborates to create the best possible environment for all parties.

Unsigned editorials represent the views of the majority of the Editorial Board — (assenting: 10; dissenting: 0; abstaining: 0)