Seton Hall University - Galleon Yearbook (South Orange, NJ)

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by the Math Department— representing the I.F.C.-I.S.C. and Reverend Robert Antczack— representing a group of at least 340 people who, sign- ing a petition, presented a concern that the Community House should remain without structure and in the hands of no sole group or organization. It is here that the term, “Community House People 77 began and ended. To preserve the philosophy and physical building itself, individuals were forced to be represented as a “group 77 . This is also the spark that re- kindled the philosophy and use of the Community House once again. But it seemed as though the confusion of terms made the entire situation much more tense than necessary. The I.F.C-I.S.C. was a well defined group with defined plans for the building, which included exclusive meetings. The “Community House People 77 were trying to preserve for the com- munity at large the right to have an alternative, open to all people. The problem grew in proportion and after many attempts at discussion Msgr. Fahy relinquished the Community House struggle to the Senate. On October 25th a Senate resolution calling for an ad hoc committee to study the problem was passed by the Senate and after much investigation and open hearing, the Senate committee reported its findings to the Senate on October 31st. This committee recommended that the Community House should retain its philosophy as an alternative, open to use by all 9

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Of the People, By the People, And for the People . . . by John McGuire Seton Hall University has right on its campus a viable alternative institution open to the entire University com- munity for us as they see fit. Its purpose is to provide to individuals a loosely knit structure upon which they, joined with other individuals, can build or reshape a community apart from those already established. It creates a humane and relaxed atmosphere in which students, faculty, adminis- trators and staff can meet and communicate as persons with- out title. With its structure as it is, the Community House provides an alternative to the Student Center, Residence Hall, and other university activities, which allows for freedom of movement in terms of programs and places to go. You decide what it does. Moving within, and indeed a part of, the Community House is the Free University. This learning experience pro- vides an educational atmosphere outside of the classroom to many people interested in sharing knowledge without the rigidity and impersonality provided elsewhere. These con- ditions allow for an open forum between those who happen to be more experienced in the subject being exposed and those with the willingness to have this knowledge shared with them. The lack of exams, semesters and other competi- tive situations allow for the individuals to learn at a pace all their own and retain it beyond the end of the school year. You may say that this is all well and good but, Why haven ' t I heard of all this before? Have these alternatives always been provided? Why should I care? To answer these questions it is necessary to delve into its recent history. The Community House began in January of 1971 in a white building across from Corrigan Hall which was formerly used as a residence for university employees (maintenance men), a dump and a garage. After much work the physical building for the philosophy of the Community was used suc- cessfully by many individuals. This did not last though and with the graduation of the original people invoved it fell into disuse; not an end to the Community House but a stagnation. On Seton Hall University there is a space problem. Many groups are in constant competition with each other for a place to call their own, and among these groups are in- cluded many deserving student organizations who for too long have been denied such space. The problem was reach- ing a crisis when in the fall of 1974 Doctor Hammond, Vice President of Student Affairs, assumed control of the building by asking for requests from student groups for space in the Community House. The deadline date for these was October 1st of that year. The two proposals accepted were presented 8

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individuals of the community with an instructional format. It was also recommended that all activities should be open to all individuals for participation. The creation of a steering committee appointed by Msgr. Fahy to establish guide-lines for health, safety, and maintenance was also asked for. The committee report was passed by the senate and the problem was finally resolved. This previously stated action created an incentive for involvement at the Community House and in the spring of 1975, the Community House and Free University were going strong with a wide variety of activities offered to all. Classes resumed, coffee houses were highly successful and social and community involvement began to again revolve within the Community House. This is all being done by indivi- duals working together from all factions of the University Community. And as a publication of the Community House states, While we rec- ognize that different communities have diffuse interests and social viewpoints, we hope to provide a structure within which people can begin to explore those ideas and values which unite, rather than divide, them. The Community House is you and for you; plug in and participate in a cooperative environment, a Community. 10