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

Page 32 text:

Clockwise from above: David G. Kostka, Dean of Students; George T. Bonett, Assistant Dean of Students; Paula M. Rivard, Assistant Dean of Students; Gerald Ramos, Assistant Dean of Students; William M. Milianes, Director of the Student Center. 28 Academics

Page 31 text:

very different place from Seton Hall in 1977. According to Kostka, in the early years of the 1970’s “the students seemed to be more interested in what was taking place around them; both in the university and in the nation.” On the College level, students were concerned with a number of restrictive rules, such as limited visitation hours in the residence halls. Just prior to Kostka’s arrival at SHU, twenty-four hour visitation rights had been granted in the men’s dorms. However in 1972, when the Women’s Residence Hall was being completed, the issue of twenty- four hour visitation rights was raised again. There were many people who believed that the regulations for women should have been different from the men’s regulations. “Some of us,” Kostka said, “felt that it was not appropriate to restrict women if we weren’t restricting men.” Fortunately, when the final decision was made, a precedent was established which required that if rules were made for men, the same rules would apply for the women. Among the other issues which Kostka faced in the early 1970’s was the increasing importance of the Stu- dent Government. “Because the stu- dents — as a whole — were more ac- tive” said Kostka, “the Student Gov- ernment organization also became more active. With this activity came increasing power and influence for the Student Government on campus.” As the war came to an end, Kostka saw students directing their activity toward more university related issues than to the outside world. As Kostka remarked, “The students were becom- ing more concerned about Seton Hall and what was being done at their school. They pushed for teacher evalu- ations. They also questioned rules and regulations and how we, the adminis- trators, were enforcing these rules,” he added. Since 1970 many changes have oc- curred in the world and at Seton Hall. At the University, Kostka has found that “the students, to a degree, have become more conservative.” He has also found that there seems to be “a segment of the student body that is getting back to the old college philosophy of having a good time, get- ting an education and getting out.” Left to right beginning opposite page: Alphonse Rylko, Director of Financial Aid; Lee W. Cooke, Director of Admissions; Rev. Joseph Slinger, As- sistant to the Vice President for Academic Af- fairs; Miriam F. O’Donnell, Assistant Vice Presi- dent for Academic Services. The Dean believes that the students are not as active in some cases or as inter- ested in some issues which they should be concerned about. He be- lieves this to be a negative factor, rather than a positive one because the student body’s activity “causes the University to re-evaluate its programs, activities and operations and to make necessary changes.” Kostka feels that these attitude changes of the student body are re- flected in the current operation of the Student Government. He thinks that the present difficulty with the group is that “all of the easy issues have been dealt with.” He has found that student government leaders were readily sup- ported by the student body when changes were being made in the stu- dent visitation privileges, the Pub was being planned, and the University Se- nate was being organized. However, Academics 27

Page 33 text:

“Seton Hall has the responsibility to mold diversified individuals.” — Margaret F. Hoppe now he finds that while student gov- ernment leaders are trying to get a stu- dent representative on the Board of Trustees, they are “unable to spark the student body to support them.” He said that it has become more difficult for the student leaders to try to ac- complish certain goals because in some cases the students are just not in- terested. As the student body has changed since 1970, Kostka has found that his role as Dean of Students has also changed. According to Kostka, it has become increasingly difficult to define his position since the Student Affairs Division at Seton Hall is not a large one, thus forcing a “person in a posi- tion like mine into many different roles.” One of Kostka’s roles is in the super- vision of professionals in the Student Center, Student Activities, Recreation Intramurals, Residence Halls and the Debate program. His aim is for the pro- fessional people “to analyze, in their specific area, what the students’ needs are and how these needs are being met.” Therefore, the members of his staff have to be aware of new ideas, as well as to “trouble-shoot” when prob- lems occur. Kostka’s other major role is to become involved directly with the students and with student organizations. Since he began working at Seton Hall, he has found that his work with such organi- zations as the Student Government As- sociation has become an exceedingly massive task. “Student Government handles $160,000 plus some very im- portant issues,” explained Kostka. In addition, students working with the GALLEON, SETONIAN, and STU- DENT PROGRAMMING BOARD, among others, often ask him “to give an opinion or approval of a contract.” In his involvement with individual students, Kostka meets with parents and businesses wanting references for students. He also is responsible for the area of university discipline for prob- lems which occur outside of the resi- dence halls. Regarding his position as an ad- ministrator, Kostka works hardest to avoid becoming too rigid and inflexi- ble in his thinking. He encourages his professional staff to be open to change, especially if the students or other staff members voice the opinion that present policies should be revised. He does not believe that administrators should worry that “people will think we don’t know what we’re doing be- cause we change a policy or decision. It is more important to change some- thing if it is bad,” he concludes. Margaret Felter, Hoppe, Acting Vice-President for Student Affairs, originated her career at Seton Hall in 1972 as Assistant Dean of Women. In that position, her prime function was the management and overall coordina- tion of the Women’s Residence Hall. Reflecting back to those days when she served as Assistant Dean, Hoppe is most proud of her ability to foster a Academics 29