"We have asked the administration to hire a full-time professional staff person who would be the professional staff support for the HAND program, given that the Office of Public Service Programs is going to be closed after June 30," said Elizabeth C. Finger '96, on of the central HAND coordinators.
"This will still, in my eves, be a cost saving measure because it will be replacing three positions with one position." she said. In addition. "the central coordinators receive a stipend, which could be diverted to the position."
Kidd said yesterday that creating such a position is "a definite possibility."
Finger said that HAND is also considering revamping its student structure.
Currently, the program is run by three central student coordinators. The modification would create a HAND board with one representative from each house program and elected officers from that board, Finger said.
Another concern for the HAND program is space. The OPS will be closing June 30, and HAND coordinators, whose office is next door, are not yet sure where their program will go.
"I honestly cannot imagine there being room for the HAND office moving over without PBH getting more space," Epstein said this week.
Epstein also said that she hopes the resources that the Faculty of Arts and Sciences currently gives to the HAND office will be preserved after she leaves at the end of June.
"I would like the opportunity and certainly hope I will get the opportunity to educate the new leadership," she said, emphasizing that the skills and knowledge of the staff in the OPS are key to the program.
In addition, "this office... has been able to disseminate financial resources to all the public service programs, and I hope those resources will continue to be available in some fashion Epstein said.
At an Impasse?
As Kidd settles in and meets with more people, public service issues will likely become clearer. And all parties involved seem to agree that keeping public service programs running is key especially in the face of governmental cutbacks.
But it members of the administration are unwilling to participate in the creation of a new PBHA board, administrators and PBHA could clash again.
And that might leave a bitter aftertaste lasting not only for a semester, but for years.