Concerns about Baldwin spark task force

Lauren Sutherland Assistant News Editor

The disinclination of Vassar students to visit the Baldwin Medical Center has become a concern among students and administrators, and has prompted the Vassar Students Association (VSA) to approve a new task force that will examine the potential sources of this reluctance.

The student task force, which will be headed by Noyes President Chelsea Backer ’07 and Ezra Markowitz ’07, will be comprised of representatives from a number of organizations, including CHOICE and the Office of Health Education. The task force will address concerns regarding Baldwin’s administration, its staff and the EMS system, as well as widespread feelings about health services in general.

“Basically, we’re going to examine Baldwin and their policies, with some looks at the EMT system as well,” said Backer during the Nov. 6 VSA Council meeting. “We’re going to look at why students are so afraid to go to Baldwin.”

VSA President Rick Rodems ’06 sent out an all-campus e-mail on the formation of the task force, as well as one on student publications (see below).

Backer later noted that the task force is in its early stages. “We are still very early in the formation process, and the panel has not yet been officially established,” said Backer, who along with Markowitz serves as an EMT on campus.

“We aren’t sure about the formal procedure, but we will probably hold a general meeting during which we will address student concerns that have been brought to our attention during previous surveys and dialogues,” continued Backer. “Then we will try to discuss our finds with people like the VSA president, the Baldwin administration, the EMS system, and [Dean of the College] JJ Jackson.”

Backer cited treatment of the nursing staff and the EMT system, lax observation of patient confidentiality policies, sensitivity issues and incidence of the closing of the facilities as issues that would most likely be brought before the committee.

While acknowledging that additional steps will have to be taken to bring about permanent policy change, Jackson voiced her approval of the task force as a “constructive way to gather information in order to cogently define and express what’s going on.”

Jackson expressed her willingness to listen to the suggestions and propositions that will be made by the panel, but asserted the necessity of direct interchange between the panel and the Baldwin administration.

“I hope that the panel will take their finds directly to Dr. Balawadjer, the Director of Baldwin.

She’s the one that I would hold accountable,” said Jackson. “I’ve already brought some concerns to the attention of Balawadjer, in order to give her a chance to take a look inside the system before meeting with the task force. I don’t want to set the staff up for failure or counterproductive public exposure.”

Such preemptive measures will, according to Jackson, “empower the Baldwin administration and me to oversee whatever needs to happen.”

Balawadjer was recently informed of the newly approved task force and voiced her eagerness to enter into a dialogue with students.

“I’ve received very little information about the committee,” said Balawadjer. “I still need to set up a meeting with the chairmen and the panelists to review the issues and goals, and to go over the guidelines of the task force.”

Liaisons between the students and the administration exist on Vassar campus, and Balawadjer acknowledged forums such as the health, counseling, and education committees as ways for students to voice their concerns.

“There are already student wellness advisory groups in place that meet once every two or three weeks,” said Balawajder. “Baldwin frequently meets with peer groups, students, VSA representatives and various committees, and anyone is welcome to come.”

Balawadjer said that she sees potential for constructive collaboration between such groups. “It would be great to see the task force work within the framework of the health committees,” she said. “[It] could certainly bring a new perspective to efforts that are already in place.”
Rodems expressed similar hopes for a cooperative effort. “This is not an adversarial thing,” said Rodems. “The VSA is just doing its part to advocate for Vassar students, and we intend to work with the administration in order to better serve the student body.”

Rodems said that the task force would be addressing an underlying student concern that has existed for years. “On the campus tours given by the Office of Admissions, they boast of high quality medical services that are available 24 hours a day,” continued Rodems. “And yet, as both a Student Fellow and VSA officer, I’ve been complained to routinely over the years. The time has finally come to say ‘What’s going on?’”