The Johnsonian

            The Johnsonian office has a lock on the main office door and a lock on the door to all labs and smaller offices, which is protected by a key code. President DiGiorgio has an Olde Stone House, which is under lock and key code via gate until he decides it should be opened.

            The purpose of the Olde Stone House will be to house meetings with the board of trustees and for use by executive officers. Many of the larger deals that Winthrop would be able to sign may come as a result of the ambiance and prestige that the president would be able to represent using the facility.  Winthrop could see a rise in investors, sponsors and other fiscal contributors that are hosted to dinners or receptions at the Old Stone House.

            Use of the site is unavailable to faculty and students. For many the Olde Stone House may tend to seem like it could be used as more of an ivory tower for the president and the Winthrop Board of Trustees. It could be seen as a billionaire boy's club of sorts, a place for the elite to play, hosting parties, dinners and other social events on site at a whim. Undoubtedly there is some type of reservation system that even the president must go through but who is honestly expected to say no to the president?

            The lack of explanation to students via email or press release may have a tendency to foster a sense of distrust among students who are already unsatisfied about the current cost of education. The fact that the amounts totaling a $5.5 million loan is planned to be paid back using monies from tuition doesn't make any efforts to heal the pain of these students either.

            With such an opportunity at hand it would be an encouragement to see the office of the president step up to the challenge of communication. Student media outlets such as The Johnsonian, The Roddey McMillan Record, WINR and Winthrop Close up will always be on hand to help in the coverage and handle the task of relating the issue to the student body. We're sure that we'd all be willing to help, especially if the task seems a little too daunting to simply explain in a press release, priority e-mail, or all student e-mail.

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