Two Weeks In, Three Community Directors Down

Last night The Hilltop was informed that Vallyn Smith, who was the community director for the Harriet Tubman Quadrangle, resigned. Smith is one of three former community directors that no longer serve in their positions since the beginning of this academic year.

Nicholas Gourdine, former community director for Charles R. Drew Hall, was reportedly fired along with Raymond Ward, former community director for George W. Carver Hall, on Thursday, Aug. 18. 

Smith's reasons for leaving have not been disclosed, nor has a replacement for any of the three community director positions been announced by Residence Life. The five halls that constitute the Quad together house 640 freshman females total, Carver Hall houses 180 undergraduate males and Drew Hall hosts 330 freshman males. 

Vivian Nweze, a former resident of the Quad was surprised to hear about Smith's sudden resignation.

"I'm really surprised. I expected her to leave at some point because she got married last semester, but I wouldn't expect her to leave abruptly out of nowhere," Nweze, a sophomore telecommunications major, said. "She seemed so dedicated to her residents that it's just really kind of shocking."

Sophomore political science major Matt Walker lived in Carver Hall last year and recalls positive interactions with Ward. 

"Mr. Ward was real cool. I don't understand why he would be fired. Myself and the crowd I hang around from Carver were really disappointed to hear that. He used to look out for us, and we all looked up to him. Anything going on with us he was there."

David Johnson, Jr., a junior psychology major,  feels similarly about Mr. Gourdine. 

"Mr. Gourdine had a presence in Drew Hall. Everything he did was for his residents," said Johnson. "He was nice to all his residents and was easy to talk to if you had a problem." 

Nweze, who performed with the Quad stroll team in ResFest Spring 2011, predicts that the changes in the Residence leadership will significantly affect the freshman class. 

"It makes me nervous for them. This change might affect the experience of the class of 2015," she said. "Community Directors have a huge influence on dorm life and college life in general," she said.