Outside agency to provide counseling on campus

by Kendra Clark staff writer

Recent uproar between administration and students may be coming to an end.

Last fall unbeknownst to many, Cabrini College made a decision to change the design of the counseling services here on campus. Instead of having its own psychologists as employees, the college has opted to hire an outside agency to provide counseling.

According to Grandgenette, the Jefferson Main Line Health system will provide a diversified level of counseling.

"We wanted more flexibility with hours, supervision and more diversity within the counselors," said Myrna Grandgenette, assistant to the president. Grandgenette worked on the project for a couple of months over the summer before Dr. Laura Valente, vice president for student development, came to Cabrini.

According to Grandgenette, Jef- ferson has counselors, but they also have links to other counselors and educators who can provide better individual service to the students.

The problems that the new plan is experiencing are due to transitions in positions that took place over the summer, which held up contracts with Jefferson.

According to Dr. Arthur Young, director of the Rooyman Center, if a student needs to see a counselor he or she should come to the Rooyman Center and make an appointment with Eleanor Di Donato, administrative assistant in the Rooyman Center.

The student will then be scheduled for an appointment with a counselor either off campus or on campus on some occasions.

Young added at the end, 'Toe procedure is a bit fuzzy to me though."

Irritably, he also added, "It was an administrative decision rather than a human decision."

Young's attitude follows those attitudes of many on campus.

Jessica Stork, a junior, said, "I don't think that it was a smart decision. I had a counselor all of last year who knew my whole story and now I don't know how to contact her. I know a lot of students services have shown to work effectively with Neumann College acting as an example.

According to Grandgenette, when Jefferson is brought onto campus, confidentiality will be higher than in the past because if a student has a single problem the counselor can then get the student the specific counseling that they need, without the student having to call around.

-Dr. Arthur Young, director of the Rooyman Center who are in the same position as me."

Confidentiality is an issue that is brought up with counseling. When asked how confidential the situation is right now Young said, ''It is as confidential as the situation allows."

When acknowledging the problems in this system, Grandgenette said, 'There are some bumps in the road, but for right now there are counselors by appointment that can help the students. The students can also find alternative ways of counseling through campus ministry, RA's, or their adviser."

Other people on campus feel the opposite emotion on the problems. "Students have needs that are not being met and it frustrates me," Young said.

One rumor that Grangenette would like to clear up is that Cabrini did not hire Jefferson because of money issues. She went on to say that outside counseling

On Sept. 21, it was decided that Krista Russell, a licensed social worker from Jefferson, would be starting work here on campus on Sept. 27. Students may go and pick up her schedule in the Rooyman Center starting Sept 26. Russell will be one of two fulltime counselors here on campus; the second counselor has yet to be hired.

According to Valente, the college is trying to find a counselor who specializes in substance abuse, who will work with the peer educators and also will be available to work nights. ''We appreciate the patience and cooperation of the community," Valente said.

People have different feelings and solutions to the counseling problem, but if a student has any problems that they need to discuss, Young gives his standard advice to everyone, "Call Dr. Laura."