Editorial: Where to turn?

There are times at Portland State when an incident occurs—be it bed bugs, floods, teacher-student fiascos or bomb threats. Whatever the day’s ills may be, it is during such times that many students look to the university administration to offer all-encompassing solutions.

The university does bear a responsibility to look after the best interests, safety and fair treatment of students. It is also logical to appreciate the fact that there is only so much administrators can do, and only so much we as students can ask of them.

In 2008, the university responded to a bomb threat in Neuberger Hall. The building was evacuated, classes canceled and caution tape displayed. In such situations, PSU has established protocol—partially developed with help from the federal government—meant to assure campus safety.

Aside from reacting to such threats to the university itself, what about disputes and concerns from a student’s perspective?

Recent occurrences, such as the incident involving Professor John Hall and Zachary Bucharest, and bed bugs in housing near campus, call to mind what position the administration plays in such matters. Rumors filled the hallways and fact was difficult to discern from fiction. How should campus leaders react in such events?

Every situation is different and therefore calls for an appropriate response; a bomb threat needs to be addressed far differently than a student dispute, or a housing issue.

Scott Gallagher, director of communications and university relations, notes that at institutions such as PSU, they should not have a single type of response to every issue or situation, and acting otherwise disregards the uniqueness of the circumstance. As with any issue, the emotional and physical safety of students, staff and faculty are the first concern—as are the rights of all parties involved.

Perhaps another issue entirely is where students can turn when they have concerns or grievances. For every dispute there is a different person to go to, from housing to financial aid, and it can be overwhelming and confusing to navigate the bureaucratic mess.

There needs to be one central point for students to go for guidance when they need help from the university.

Beyond the immediate services the university offers, there are also areas where it cannot help, such as with legal assistance regarding conflict between students and the university. The Center for Student Health and Counseling can only help so many students as well, because not all students are eligible for care. When the university cannot help, they should at least know where to guide students. This falls under their responsibility of looking after student well-being.

We as students can only expect so much from the administration, and they are not an answer to all of our needs. However, the university does need to step up its game in guiding students to the help they need in times of confusion or crisis.