The Observer, March 21, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 21
Outside the Circle
Boston limits off-campus housing
Last week, the Boston Zoning Commission limited the number of students who can live together off-campus to four. The Boston Globe reported that the motion was met with strong support from college officials and neighborhood groups, but students voiced strong opposition to the policy. Supporters say that the measure was necessary in order to cut down on the late-night parties in otherwise quiet residential neighborhoods. Many students complained, however, that the new policy will take away any affordable off-campus housing options.
Admissions group to tackle conflict of interest issues
This February, many college admissions officials were astounded to learn that many private college admissions consultants–people paid by parents to navigate the admissions process for their kids–were also employed by colleges or high schools.
Last weekend, the board of the National Association for College Admission Counseling voted to create a special working group to examine conflict of interest issues raised in the profession.
David Hawkins, director of public policy and research for NACAC, said that board members wanted to provide good advice to the profession while also recognizing the role of employers. "They didn't want to cross boundaries that were the domain of employee-employer relations," he said.
Although the study was specifically prompted by the issue of private counselors, other conflict of interest issues will be examined, such as questions about benefits some colleges provide to high school counselors whom they want to recommend their institutions. Hawkins said that board wants to develop policies that would deal "not just with actual conflicts of interest, but the perception of conflicts of interest."
Most private counselors say they currently follow ethics rules of their association, the Independent Educational Counselors Association. But many admissions experts hope that the NACAC could provide more stringent guidance.
The association's "Principles of Good Practice" state that "multiple relationships"–in which a counselor also works for a school or college or related program – "may relate or appear to create a conflict of interest." The principles state that members must take steps to avoid those conflicts, and they specifically state that members must inform clients of their various activities. But the principles do not bar the dual relationships, which suggests that the association believes these dual relationships can be effectively managed.
The NACAC board members who are studying the issue are counselors either in high schools or colleges.
Gay couple sues University of Hawaii
Lambda Legal, a gay rights group, announced last week plans to sue the University of Hawaii at Manoa on behalf of a gay couple denied space in the university's family housing. According to the group, the couple lived in family housing last year but was denied similar housing this year because officials stated that the housing was reserved solely for married couples.
The lawsuit notes that the Hawaii Supreme Court, in the case of gay marriages, has declared that the benefits of marriage may not be denied to gay couples. By forcing the couple to live off-campus, the university has subjected the partner who is not a student to higher rents and transportation costs he would otherwise not face.
The university has declined to comment until officials see the suit.
Senate rejects earmark ban
The U.S. Senate voted down a proposal to ban earmarks for one year by a vote of 71-29 last week, The Washington Post reported. Critics of earmarks, including all three senators running for president, say that the practice of directing projects to specific universities encourages wasteful government spending. However, many colleges and universities rely on earmarks to build new facilities and support educational programs.
The vote was part of the consideration of a budget blueprint for the 2009 fiscal year. In amending the blueprint, the Senate approved measures that would allow congressional appropriators to provide $2.1 billion more for the National Institutes of Health and allow Congress to increase the amount of federal loan funds that a student can borrow at a later date if the credit crunch worsens.
The budget resolution sets overall spending levels that congressional appropriators must stay under, but its figures for individual programs are not binding.
