Campus Reform: Gustavus Adolphus College

On Sunday, September 04, 2011 I attempted to view Gustavus Adolphus College's freshman orientation program.  After the national media frenzy that surrounded the expose' of the incredibly left leaning lectures of the previous year's orientation, I wanted to observe whether the changes promised by administrators would be instituted.

Just as I took my seat to observe the show, the Director of Diversity Programs at Gustavus Adolphus College escorted me out of the school's freshman orientation seminar before it began.   

What were they trying to prevent me from seeing?  Is there something that goes on behind the closed doors of Freshman Orientation that they don't want anybody to find out about?  

The VP of Student Life did everything she could to avoid giving me a straight answer regarding whether the seminars have changed since last year. She was adamant about not talking to me in greater detail unless it was under the condition that the information wouldn't go out to any radio hosts or internet blogs.

This incident makes it appear that Gustavus is trying to prevent constituents of the college from learning anything about its internal affairs.  Gustavus had one of their media services employees on duty during freshman orientation to film the seminars for them. 

The fact that they have footage of the entire seminar gives Gustavus the ability to prove that they have nothing to hide. 

Gustavus has everything they need to finally put a stop to a year or more of muddled controversy regarding their controversial freshman orientation.

The argument has always been that people who have tried to bring Gustavus Freshman Orientation out of the shadows have deliberately distorted it.  So now is their chance to set the story straight.

If Gustavus releases the film, this controversy can be put to rest once and for all.  If they don't release the footage, it becomes obvious to everyone that they are trying to hide the details of what their orientation program does to students behind closed doors.

Regardless of what that answer is, we all agree -- enough is enough -- It is time to set the story straight.   It's obvious to everyone that its time Gustavus releases the footage.

How you can Take Action:

Contact Matt Dobosenski, the Gustavus Media Services Coordinator, at dobo@gustavus.edu (507.933.7462) and ask him to ensure a copy of this footage remains secure and does not get destroyed.

Contact President Ohle (president@gustavus.edu) and his Administrative Assistant Patricia Leagjeld (pleagjeld@gustavus.edu -- 507.933.7538) and let them know that you think its time Gustavus used this footage to set the story straight by releasing it online for us to examine.