The Counseling Center

I feel like the counseling center has gotten bashed a lot on this site. I'm just speaking for myself, but I have had many fantastic experiences with the counseling center. They have helped me immensely in dealing with some of the emotional issues I have already posted about. I'm sure there are many ways that the counseling center can be improved and we’ve already read about people who are "embarrased" or "disappointed" in their services. I don't discourage people from trying to improve the counseling center, but I just wanted to point out that many people DO have good experiences with SU's counselors and not everyone has negative experiences.

I'd encourage anyone who does want emotional support or help dealing with anything to go see a counselor here. It could even be a “silly” or “stupid” issue. I know I had a couple “trivial” things I talked to counselors about. What's the worst that could happen? If you have a bad experience, you just stop going and you've maybe wasted a few hours of your life. The possible benefits, however, can be immense - so don’t be discouraged from seeking professional help at SU just because others have had bad experiences. Also, the counselors here ARE professionals. They may not be perfect, but generally they know what they’re talking about because this is the job they went to school and got trained for. Counseling was a very emotionally difficult and upsetting process for me (as I’m sure it is for anyone), but when I was done my entire life was improved and I could approach every day with more confidence and self-assurance. My relationships with other people became better, more fulfilling, and satisfying. I am more full of life and I am who I am today (and someone I can be proud of) because of the counseling center and how much they helped me. The counselors there helped me immensely during very difficult and stressful times in my life. Hopefully they can help other people as much as they helped me. There's no other time in your life where you'll have absolutely free mental health services, so I'd suggest at least trying it out.

How we responded to Dean Tyree

Dear Dean Tyree:
Dr. Hardin has told us that you emailed him. Thank you for acknowledging our concerns. We are interested in meeting, perhaps as a group during presidents hours, and appreciate your efforts to set up an open conversation with President Lemons. In anticipation of such a meeting, we would like to formally submit some of the issues that have been made manifest so far in the blog. In some cases, there may be a simple answer that we are not aware of, and in others, we would like to raise concerns so that President Lemons can come to the meeting fully prepared. We assume that the administration will be able to help us in a cooperative environment where all parties can be heard and acknowledged. We are posting this letter on line and forwarding to Dr. Hardin so that he can forward it to you personally. We respect your decision not to join the blog; our reasons for posting this is to let our members see that their issues are being raised, and that if we have failed to address any of them, they might add to this list or ideally, attend the open conversation with President Lemons.
Of course, you are still welcome here, and we do understand how much you care. Sometimes, however, it seems that the humanity can be lost in the bureaucracy.
Sincerely,
The DL
These issues are in no particular order.
First, could you please explain the policy and the reasoning on Blue Lights?
Second, based on the accounts of a number of the students who have posted, it seems that the school’s policy on psychological disorders and treatment needs review. It may simply be an issue of misunderstanding, but it seems counterproductive if there is a punitive element for any student seeking psychological help.
Third, create a venue for the anonymous reporting of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, homophobia, racism, etc. It is great that you have the new Sexual Assault Victims unit here at SU, with 10 caring faculty members, but can we extened that to victims of "hate crimes" also? This would not be intended as a legal venue for punishing the offenders, since we understand the democratic right to confront one’s accuser, but we do feel that the university needs to fully understand the extent that such issues occur in order for it to best address allocate its efforts in making this a better university.
Fourth, consider the designation of hate crime. While it might seem trivial to someone else, for a person who has been victimized because of race, sexuality, gender, etc, it is important for those who have been victimized simply for who they are that the community understand WHY it happened. What will it take to get hate crime rules in the public safety lawbook?
Fifth, address the issue of the class disparity and antagonism on campus. If the school is going to admit working class students, then it should seek to make us feel welcome, not as charity cases or in some way inferior. What can we do to raise scholarships and grants with the tuition raise?
Sixth, we need to find a real solution for the undercurrent of racial tension here. This was made quite evident last year in the school paper, and it does not seem to have been solved, merely hushed. We have no solutions, but would like to see the process toward a fully integrated SU community continue. How can we increase diversity on campus? What areas would be good to target to bring in multicultural students, and faculty.
Seventh, the blog has made it clear that our GLBT students still, in 2006, at a liberal arts university, feel that they have to remain in the closet. Part of this is the problem of the other students who make comments, threats and even hostile actions against the GLBT community; we understand that the administration is not responsible for that. However, we believe that if the administration is more visible in its active support of the GLBT community, such intolerance will have fewer spaces to hide, and the students will feel safer in voicing their fears.
Seven is a good beginning. We know this is an ambitious list, but we did not start the blog to make cosmetic changes. We want to see change. We want to feel heard. We want to know that our school cares about our lives, not just our G.P.A.s. We love this school—we wouldn’t invest so much of ourselves in the DL if we didn’t.
The DL.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

Alot of you have asked what you can do to help--here is a great chance to get involved

Date: 4/5/2006 12:32:00 AMAuthor: Johnson, Brian (johnsonb@susqu.edu)Susquehanna University has dirty laundry!Susquehanna University isn't doing anything about diversity!The administration doesn't care!What are YOU willing to do about it?Students interested in being a part of changing our campus culture are invited to join the Peer Diversity Trainers corps. PDTs are students trained in the facilitation of dynamic conversations about diversity. They lead discussion groups, experiential activities aimed at increasing consciousness and awareness, and promoting intercultural relationships.Is this the only way to impact the culture--NO! But, it is one way to begin making a difference!A new training series begins on April 10th. Interested and committed students who want to build a better SU should contact Erin Bunger, university assistant for the Office of Multicultural Affairs at bunger@susqu.edu or at x4037.

A new email

I have the general outlook in life that shit happens, especially in college. There is no "perfect place for you" like many college counselors want you to believe. There are dozens of things I could complain about. I feel like this story portays a lot of the things that happen here.Last year I was placed in a single room in a house on the ave. It was a great room, 2 windows, 2 closets. The company wasn't so great. It was 6 other girls, all who knew each other very well. One was on of the RAs on the Ave.The second weekend back at school in the fall I was awaken at 3 am to my door being opened an my light turned on. The lock on the door wasn't very good, if it wasn't in the exact right spot it didn't do any good. Another girl from my house had just walked into my room. She headed to my closet and I said "what the heck are you doing in here". She said "oh sorry" turned of the light, and proceeded to shut herself in my closet. She was in there for three or four minutes, i heard all my things falling down. I was shaking and terrified. After a few minutes, she managed to get out of the closet and left my room. I called my Dad, even though it was the middle of the night, crying. Colleges are supposed to be safe.The next morning I approached the girl. She was "slightly intoxicated" as she put it. And didn't remeber much. SHe said she was tryign to find the bathroom and though my closet was it. Great - a strange girl may have urinated in my closet.I e-mailed several RAs on the Ave to let them know what had happened. I asked for a stronger lock to be put on my. The told me the lock would be fixed and they would talk to the girl, she wouldn't get away with it. Apparently the truth isn't important and neither is having respect for other people. I was told my lock could not be fixed and they never spoke to the girl.I know much worse things have happened on this campus. I just want to know why people get away with showing such little respect for others? I'm upset that good people lose themselves and their strength to drunks, poor leaders, and in general disrespectful people.

~An anonymous email

DEAR DEAN TYREE....

Dear Dean Tyree:
Thank you for your expressions of support and concern in the Crusader article. This post will seek to address the questions that you raised.

First and foremost, we feel that it is necessary to maintain the anonymity of those who post. While the potential does exist for passive aggressive postings, we believe that the benefit to those who otherwise feel utterly alienated from the process and those who fear some form of reprisal warrants our commitment to them, even if they wish to remain anonymous. People are clearly scared.

Secondly, you seem to equivocate about the administration’s role. If, as you suggest, it is the students’ responsibility, then is this not what we are doing? However, we do believe that we cannot do this alone, that without some form of faculty or administration assistance, the problems that may only be felt by a small number of students simply will not garner enough student interest to create policy.

Third, we are working on a strategy to create solutions. One idea that we are considering is a university forum or panel, where students (members of the DL who are willing to identify themselves) and faculty and administration will sit down and work out real solutions. However, for this to mean anything, it would have to have the power to create legislation, not merely “talk.” The DL is meant to be the “talk” stage. Our next goal is action.


Fourth, in reponse to the suggestion that a blog cannot create or support change, we would remind people that the pamphlet wars of the 1770s greatly coalesced public opinin behind the revolution and mobilized the people to war. And among northern whites, abolitionist opinion was often generated and disseminated by white women writing letters to each other. Can we PROMISE that our blog will change how people act at SU, no; in that, the Dean is correct. However, what we can promise is if we don't try, NO ONE ELSE WILL.


One topic which has come up that we cannot deal with on our own is the question of how the university treats students with psychological disorders. We understand that the university has certain legal responsibilities, but is there a way to give students greater support, allow greater anonymity, and remove any specter of reprisal if a student harms him-/herself.

This letter is only intended to be the first word in what we hope in an ongoing and productive conversation. We are emailing you a formal invitation to join the blog. And clearly, we would love to extend this invitation to any administration or faculty member who would like to participate.


Sincerely,
Your students in the DL