Student responds to Carpenter resignation

"I've made a pledge to this college and to this community to stay here a long time." These are the words David Carpenter, director of residence life, told my mother and me in April of 2001.

The reason he told us this was because my mother was wondering why there was always so much mix up in the residence life office. She explained to Mr. Carpenter that every time she calls the office no one seems to know what he or she is doing, or who is in charge. The reason for her culling the residence life office so frequently was because her son, me, was being "separated from residence halls" because of too many alcohol violations. Truth be told, I was never "written up" while intoxicated my freshmen year, nor have I ever been for that matter. In other words, l was in the wrong place at the wrong time, on a number of occasions.

After being told by Carpenter that I wasn't allowed to live on Cabrini's campus or allowed to be within 150 feet of any dorm, I decided to appeal my case. After telling my mother that I was being removed from campus, and that she was not going to get any of her hard earned money back, she caJled the new director of residence life, Mr. Carpenter, and set up a meeting with him.

I will never forget that meeting. My mother was crying her eyes out, and I was pleading my case to Mr. Carpenter. When he wasn't being interrupted every couple of minutes by his diligent staff, Mr. Carpenter explained that I had broken the rules and had to be punished. He went on to tell us of the many changes he was planning for this campus, one of which was a restaurant that would take house seven's place after it was knocked down. This all wouldn't take place overnight, he assured us. It would happen in the course of five to ten years.

After a number of empty promises, Mr. Carpenter told my sobbing mother that he would be around for a long time.

Mr. Carpenter will be }caving this campus in January of 2003. He started as director of residence life in January of 200 I ; that's two years for those counting, which obviously doesn't include Mr. Carpenter.

I guess the changes that he spoke about aren't going to happen, and his idea of a long time is two years. And as far as his "pledge" to this campus and community, I don't think it entailed a two-year reign as director of residence life, one that wasclouded in controversy.•

At least he was here to kick me off campus, and lie to my mother and my father, who, by the way, works two jobs to put his son through college.

Thanks for a great couple of years, Mr. Carpenter. I'll be sure to let my mother and father know of your departure. I hope that your "pledge" to the students and their parents of the new school you decide to screw up works better.

Pete Kulick