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Greiner urges faculty to keep war dialogue "open and fair"
By DONNA LONGENECKER
Reporter Assistant Editor
President William R. Greiner said yesterday that the university will support the right of students and faculty to speak openly and freely about the war in Iraq and he called on faculty members to remember to help keep dialogue about the conflict "open and fair for all points of view."
However, Greiner, speaking informally to members of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee at their weekly meeting, cautioned faculty not to choose sides regarding the incursion into Iraq in ways that would adversely affect the normal operations of the campus. He related a story about a student who was upset that a faculty member had cancelled class so students could attend a war-related rally. Greiner said the student felt his right to attend class and obtain an education shouldn't be impeded and that it was inappropriate for the instructor to have cancelled the class.
"I have to say, I agree with that," Greiner said of the student's concern, although he noted that the instructor's choice to cancel class was "well-intended."
"I would ask you to be collegial with each other, be supportive of our students and be there to offer advice," he said. "Faculty play an extremely important role at a time like this." Greiner pointed out that if the war is lengthy, the atmosphere on campus could become very stressful and urged faculty to remain sensitive to students' concerns. "We've got to walk along very careful lines," he added. "We need to maintain proper balance and fair treatment."
The war also has spurred an increase in visits to Counseling Services, especially by international students expressing concerns or fears about the current situation, said Sharon Mitchell, director of counseling services.
"We've been helping them (students) ask for what they need from the university," said Mitchell, adding that Counseling Services has teamed up with Student Life and International Scholars and Student Services to facilitate discussions that allow students to express how they feel about the war.
Mitchell, who has been on the job just three weeks, updated the FSEC on the unit's role on campus in counseling students or referring them for outside treatment if needed. She said that in the past 15 years, colleges and universities across the country have seen an increase in the number of students coming to campus with diagnosable mental disorders. Many of the students, she noted, may have been in treatment for disorders since middle or high school.
Counseling Services also sees students who are struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, paranoia and delusions, social anxiety, eating disorders, family problems, academic/career issues and relationship concerns. "We deal with a wide variety of issues," she said.
The average wait time for first-time appointments can be as long as a week, but Mitchell assured senators that there is no waiting for students in crisis—those students are seen immediately. The staff is comprised of six psychologists, two social workers and two consulting psychiatrists, as well as three pre-doctoral psychology interns. Students typically see a counselor for about four and a half sessions, she said.
"I feel like we're pretty booked," she said, noting that more than 1,000 students have requested services this year. "My priority is to make sure people get in and get assessed as quickly as possible."
Counseling Services, located at 120 Richmond Quad in the Ellicott Complex, offers group and individual counseling, as well as couples counseling, skill-building workshops that are appropriate to students' personal and career development, referrals for resources that are not available at Counseling Services, and outreach and consultation for campus groups, faculty, staff and students to enhance organizational and interpersonal effectiveness. The unit also offers a detailed brochure for faculty and staff on recognizing and dealing with students in emotional distress.
Students can make an appointment by calling 645-2720 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call the Crisis Services hotline at 834-3131. Counseling Services' Web site can be accessed at http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/.