OUR VIEWS Consensus Opinion

No longer interim

After a long search for a new Dean of Students, the position has officially been filled by John Stein, who had been serving as the interim Dean. Therefore, Stein has already been able to aclimate himself to the position, which is primarily in place for student advocacy and support. It is great that Stein is already acquainted with Tech traditions and ways. He is another in a short line of long-term Deans-Tech has only had four Deans of Students in 85 years.

Stein should continue to be a visible presence on campus and available to talk to students, and students in turn should remember that his office is there for more than just disciplinary problems. They should recognize the more positive side of his position.

For instance, his office is responsible for programs like GT Smart, diversity initiatives, the Women's Resource Center and Greek affairs. They also coordinate student programs and initiatives, which they should continue to make as effective as they have been in the past. Stein should also critically evaluate the current programs and not be afraid to institute new ones.

Tech's student population is growing, and the Dean of Students office has an opportunity to restructure and get to know a greater variety of students and their needs. Stein's background with GT 1000 has put him in a good position to get to know freshmen and understand what they need, and he can use this to his advantage by getting to know younger students before they show up in his office as confused upperclassmen. We are confident that he will do a great job as the new Dean of Students.

Worth hearing

Next month's Finding Common Ground event will feature a keynote address by Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet Maya Angelou, which is a very exciting addition to a project focused on diversity. Angelou is a high-profile speaker, and Tech, unlike many other colleges, rarely has such speakers. A lot of people, students and staff alike, have worked hard to bring this event together, even securing extensive funding from private donations.

Students should make an effort to attend this free event. Not only will Angelou be an interesting speaker, but a high attendance at her address will make it more likely for Tech to get other distinguished speakers in the future.

The time for the Wednesday event, 8 p.m., may conflict with some organizations' already scheduled meetings, such as Greek chapter, but organizations can and should make an effort to reschedule their meetings and attend the event together.