Hotline hears complaints, problems
Campus Times
November 8, 1996
The members of the Associated Student Federation (ASF) Forum, concerned
about students' problems, have established a telephone hotline to hear complaints.
The Forum wants to know what is bothering student, how it can assist and
what kinds of activities students want to see.
During August, while at their retreat, the members of ASF decided that they
needed to do something as representatives for the students.
"So we decided to address the needs of the students and act as a student
advocacy group," said junior Tracey Landisi, ASF president. A hotline
was established called "Because Irritating Things Can Happen,"
also known as the B.I.T.C.H. Line.
"Everything is not wonderful at La Verne, and we don't want to focus
on the negative, but it is important for us to know what the students who
elected us need," said Landisi.
By calling extension 6677, one can leave a message regarding any concerns.
According to Junior Par Nag, ASF secretary, the voice mail is checked several
times a day. Once a message is retrieved, an ASF member will respond to
the concern by returning the phone call or sending a letter to the student's
mailbox addressing the problem.
"Students who do not live on campus, or the ones who don't make it
into the Student Center, are not getting the amount of information we would
like them to get and those are the students that we would like to engage,"
said Landisi.
Nag said, "I think that the B.I.T.C.H. Line is a great idea and it
is about time that someone did something like that. A lot of students had
major problems with financial aid, and the B.I.T.C.H. Line was a great way
to deal with some of those problems. Contrary to popular belief, ASF can
do something to help."
Many students are not aware of the power that ASF has, from little concerns,
like clogged sinks and showers in the residence halls, to big problems,
like financial aid awards not being made on time. ASF can pass these complaints
along to maintenance or the Board of Trustees and urge that something be
done about them.
Students are also welcome to call in and give opinions and suggestions.
"We don't know what students want if they don't tell us," said
Nag. "Students should start utilizing resources on this campus. There
are tons of them out there."
The hotline is not just for students, either. Faculty can also give suggestions
and voice their opinions about things concerning them on campus.
Sophomore Deette Clay said she became aware of the B.I.T.C.H. line by seeing
a poster in the Student Center, but neither she nor her friends have called.