Roth addresses Fountain arrests on his blog

Fueling, I'm 60% sure, what will become a descent into a student-vs.-administration back-and-forth in the comments, President Roth just posted about the incident on Fountain Ave. in an article titled "Disturbing Semester's End" at his blog, Roth on Wesleyan:

I had anticipated writing a happy “Finals Are Over!” blog entry at the end of the week. Instead, we are dealing with the aftermath of the disturbing events that happened as law enforcement officers broke up a student gathering very early Friday morning.

... Mike Whaley (VP for Student Affairs) and I have received dozens of reports from eyewitnesses. I’ve spoken with some police officers and the Chief of Police. We are piecing together the most reliable account possible to understand what went wrong and why. We are reviewing all this information, and I will be meeting with Middletown authorities to follow up on the many complaints our students have made about the use of force. We will also be reviewing our own policies as well as the behavior of some members of the Wesleyan community.

I do not intend to host a debate on this blog about who was at fault. We continue to gather information, and I will consult with student, faculty and Middletown leaders about our findings. By better understanding what went wrong this week, we can greatly improve the chances that an event like this will not happen again in our community.

Regardless of his position on the issue right now (which makes sense to me, as an observer), kudos to President Roth for providing some insight into the administration's position, over and above the standard University announcement that was sent out yesterday.

Roth offers his views on Greek life

President Roth's blog, Roth on Wesleyan, often provides a nice perspective on his interactions with the student body. Most recently, Roth blogged about his encounters with fraternities on campus.

At the end of the day, what's his verdict? Fraternities are A-OK:

... As I’ve met with students around campus this year, I have visited with all the fraternities, including the Eclectic Society (which usually doesn’t see itself in this context). I have found them to be energetic, vital student organizations capable of making contributions to the campus as a whole...

And, while plans for expansion aren't in the cards, it does look like a Roth administration won't go out of its way to persecute Greek organizations:

... Fraternities have historic roots with alumni that are important to maintain, and I believe that the frats (including Eclectic) at Wes can continue to play a very positive role at the university. We will not be adding any new Greek societies because there are now many other ways for students to join together in residentially based groups. Wesleyan’s students have a rich choice of social organizations in which to participate, from the very traditional to the most avant-garde. I’m committed to keeping it that way.

Words of wisdom, by Michael S. Roth

The blog of our beloved Mikey Roth '78 has some good advice:

The multiplicity of groups ["communities that make up the Wesleyan world"] is exciting, but it also creates challenges for bringing people together in shared purpose, study, even celebration. There are conflicts among our diverse groups over politics, economics, food, personal choices. But we should remember also what we have in common: a devotion to the freedom (and affection) in which education can thrive.

As your final exams wind down and your sleep pattern inches back to normal, let's remember what unites us as students here at Wesleyan.

Have a great break!