By Melissa Boyd (Whetstone staff writer)

Nearly 200 students expressed discontent during a meeting at Wesley College last week, including safety, maintenance and technology, as well as the financial solvency of the school.

Students brought up concerns about safety at Wesley. In a call-out response, the majority of the students said they didn’t feel safe at Wesley and weren’t sure if they would feel safe after new procedures were put into place.

After student concerns kept piling up on Dean Wanda Anderson’s desk, she decided it was time to hold a town hall meeting for students.

“Over the past month, I’ve heard student concerns,” she said. “We [administration] want you to be involved in the decision-making and express yourself because this is your campus. We’re shaping this campus and it’s good to have all of you involved.”

The town hall meeting, Oct. 9, included 171 students, Dean Anderson, President William Johnston, Director of Safety and Security Walt Beaupre, Director of Residence Life Kevin Hansbury and three security officers.

Issues of safety were brought up after several fights broke out Saturday night with mostly non-Wesley students.

“I felt in danger trying to break up fights,” said Resident Assistant Isnara St. Phard. “Saturday was just outrageous.”

Students also questioned the protocol for security officers in situations where there are hundreds of students and only a few security officers.

“Security officers carry pepper spray,” Beaupre said. “They used it that night to break up a fight.”

Other major safety concerns that have occurred within the past month include student possession of a handgun on-campus Sept. 10 and six students being robbed at gun-point off-campus Sept. 30.

“I think our campus is safe and secure,” Johnston said. “However, there are areas near campus that you just shouldn’t frequent. Remember, security has no authority off-campus.”

Students, including Esmeralda Elsakhawy, brought up building a fence or gate around Wesley’s main campus.

“I think we could build a fence to help secure our students,” she said.

However, Johnston said a fence is an unlikely possibility.

“The challenge with gates is that roads and parking lots still surround and are within our campus,” he said. “We have a card-swiping system in several places to help provide a safer school community.”

He also said they are considering putting more card-swiping devices on buildings across campus instead of just dormitories.

Hansbury said he was planning future meetings for R.A.s to discuss changing guest policies within the dorm, especially for guests that spend the night. He also has other dorm changes in mind, such as having only one door in use per dorm after a certain time.

“R.A’s have already given us great feedback and issues to consider that we may not have thought of,” he said. “We want to continue that dialogue and their input is extremely valuable.”

Students also said they were concerned about maintenance and technology issues, such as Wi-Fi being down in Zimmerman Hall, flickering lights, no ice in the cafeteria for weeks and the mold in Cannon Hall.

Student Fedelina Paul said her experience at Wesley has been negative because of all of the maintenance and technology issues.

“I would like to know where our money is going,” she said. “Things aren’t handled before coming here and I want to know where my money is really going.”

Johnston said maintenance worked on buildings in the summer.

“More work was needed,” he said. “We are continually having things checked out while school continues.”

Student Cydnie Flowers said Wesley struggles with communication between the financial aid office and business office.

“I know I personally have different financial aids and I know they’re paid but the business office still harasses me and my dad with bills for not paying,” she said. “If the communication could just be better, then I would be a lot happier.”

Student Erica Martin said she was disappointed with the financial situation Wesley seems to be in.

“A lot of our issues revolve around finance,” she said. “Why isn’t Ron Reck [new Chief Financial Officer] here? No one knows who he is or has met him. He hasn’t answered our questions.”

However, Johnston said that Reck wasn’t invited or expected to be at the town hall meeting.

In a show of hands, 90 percent of students indicated they wanted to meet Ron Reck.

“He is looking at the state the college is in, financially,” Anderson said. “He’s making his own analysis before making his own procedures.”

Anderson also suggested creating two student committees with faculty advisers – one for security and one for dining hall complaints or concerns. Students can join either committee by going to the Student Affairs Office.

Anderson also said there will be future town hall meetings that students are welcome to join. Emails will be sent with further information at a later date.