News by Carolyn Stent

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Send mail to The Voice Faculty revises student handbook One day, last year's student handbook may be a collectable. A new handbook, containing several carefully worded changes, rolled off the presses this summer. Last year, Dr. Lockwood, president, commissioned a faculty committee to revise the handbook. According to Dr. Strickland, the committee's task was to evaluate the handbook to see if its policies flow from the college's mission and to communicate a Christian lifestyle in a positive way. The new handbook establishes the following institutional norm: "Students are asked to refrain from activities that promote immodesty or sensuality." For several years, student government has requested permission to organize a square dance. This spring, the faculty reconsidered the dancing rules and voted that certain school-sponsored dance activities may be allowed with the Student Affairs Committee's approval. Students attending a wedding or a dance in their family's home or who participate in certain forms of dancing that do not promote sensuality as de-fined in the student handbook are no longer required to submit a petition. Although the handbook still restricts students to only watch movies rated G, PG or PG-13 while on campus, it does not restrict off-campus viewing. Students are asked to exercise discernment and only watch movies that do not violate the institutional norms. These changes represent a shift away from emphasizing rules and toward principles. "The heart behind the changes is to give students the opportunity to make decisions," Karen Fancher, dean of women, said. She said the changes provide a higher standard by encouraging students to exercise discernment rather than rely on structured guidelines. Other changes are more technical. During missions conference week in the spring semester, juniors and seniors have enjoyed the option of missing 10 hours of sessions. The new handbook merely states that all full-time students are allowed five hours of unexcused absence from the conference. However, missing Thursday evening or Friday morning sessions will no longer be considered a double cut. Previously, students only wore shorts between classes or on weekends. Students may now wear shorts in chapel and class between spring break and fall mid-semester break. Classrooms will no longer include printed signs prohibiting food or drink. Students may now bring food or drink into the classroom at the faculty member's discretion. Students will find fewer small multi-colored announcements in their mailboxes. Staff and faculty will use email for all campus communication. Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2001 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.