Student development draws tighter lines in policy

In the continuing effort to enhance the face of Covenant’s campus, Student Development has begun emphasizing rules regarding the use of hammocks on school property, including the possibility of confiscation and fines. Most of the hammock policy isn’t new, but it has not been heavily enforced in the past.

The policy, which can be found in the Residence Hall Manual, includes a statement compelling students to take down their hammocks when not in use, as well as physical specifications for hanging them up.

A recent addition to the policy prohibits students from hanging hammocks in front of Carter Hall, referred to as “our ‘front yard’” in a campus-wide email.

In addition to the hammocks cropping up near Carter Hall, the grassy knoll in front of the Kresge Memorial Library (dubbed “the Crater”) has become a whirlpool of netting and nylon around the clock, and students can expect changes there as well.

Sophomore Mason Hodges views the hammocks as a welcoming gesture juxtaposed with the school’s motto displayed in Carter Circle. “I think [the hammocks] give outsiders a window into residence life,” he said. “It represents us accurately—‘in all things Christ preeminent,’ and we’re children at heart….We like to be in trees.”
Dean of Students Brad Voyles appreciates the community-building aspect of hammocks but discourages the ghost-town emptiness when students aren’t around. “It’s a great scene to see a group of kids hanging out on hammocks with someone strumming the guitar, but they can’t end up flopping in the wind the next day.”
Sophomore Robbie Brown sympathizes with the desire to keep the front of Carter Hall clear of hammocks as well as the guidelines for safe hammock set-up, but added, “Leaving my hammock up in the Crater is a way of inviting my Covenant brothers and sisters to share in what I am able to offer them.”

“The Crater has become a place of fellowship and casual study that is unparalleled on campus,” said senior Luke Granholm, calling the constant presence of the hammocks a “staple.”

Members of the grounds crew who have been assigned the task of confiscating non-compliant hammocks said they were not permitted to comment on the situation.

Faulty readers and cards bungle students’ first week

From the outset of the school year, the ScotsCard system caused problems for students, but the sources of the snags are not always easy to identify.

Card snafus began on the day that returning students arrived. As in years past, returning on-campus students expected their meal plan to begin the same day that residence halls opened back up for them. This year, the official academic calendar had students returning Tuesday Aug. 24, but the meal plan started the following day.
Although anticipating a meal in the Great Hall, many students couldn’t use their ScotsCards the first evening back on campus.

According to Tom Schriener, Director of Auxiliary Services, the change was accidental.
“I don’t remember the last time we did that any other time than Tuesday night.” As Schreiner explained, there was a miscommunication between three different offices: Student Development, Auxiliary Services, and the ScotsCard office.

Frustrated at not having access to the meal plan, sophomore Cornelius Hegeman said, “I basically ate Life cereal until the meal plan started up. It sucks to be jet-lagged and hungry.”
Despite the mishap, students could scan into lunch using their ScotsCards the following day. Schreiner said that communication would be better next year.

Some students also experienced trouble accessing dorm entryways. The beginning of each year is notorious for ScotsCard residential building access.

Greg Ford, Safety and Security Coordinator, explained that issues usually arise when the system is turned back on after a summer hiatus.

Inability to access dorms could be caused by either the card or the system. ScotsCard and Safety and Security Services Coordinator Daniel Dupree said, “If your card beeps – has any kind of response from a reader – that means your card is okay. The problem lies within the system.”

Although some issues are card-related, the upsurge of problems at the beginning of the year is related to the system. Each access door contains a solenoid, a cylindrical wire that acts as a magnet when carrying an electric current. When activated, the solenoid triggers the door to unlock.

Rather than issuing thousands of I.D. cards to campers during the summer, the card access system is turned off.
Ford explained, “That little solenoid has power to it and it’s holding that latch open for three and a half months, 24-7.” When the system is turned back on, the solenoid might fry from being strained all summer long, causing the door to remain locked. Ford continued, “That’s why once we go live with the system there are so many doors that won’t open, won’t scan, won’t shut.”

The solenoid inside the third lobby door to Founders fried when the system was turned back on. The door remains temporarily unlocked and propped open until the solenoid is replaced. As a result, the campus security guard now patrols Founders more heavily to maintain the same level of safety.

Often times, however, the problem is particular to individual students. When asked about these specific cases, Ford stated, “The truth is, there are random cards that just stop working.” Whatever problems students experience, Daniel Dupree stressed the importance of reporting them to the ScotsCard office, “If they don’t come in, I can’t do anything.”

If students are unable to access the Great Hall or their dorm building when the ScotsCard office is closed, Ford explained, they may obtain emergency cards from their Resident Director.