Last week, Charles Dougherty, president of Duquesne University, released a statement in The Duquesne Duke in which he said living off campus may be grounds to describe you as a libertine. According to dictionary.com, a libertine can be defined as “a person who is morally or sexually unrestrained.”
The comment has since received attention from many national newspapers and news stations, such as The New York Times, WPXI and dozens of other publishers.
“We know why they move off-campus. They flaunt the state liquor laws and they live a libertine lifestyle that is not allowed on campus,” Dougherty commented in The Duquesne Duke. Dougherty proceeded in the article to refer to off campus living as a “Mardis Gras.”
On Oct. 23, after a barrage of media attention, Dougherty released a letter apologizing for his remarks. He also pointed out that the percentage of Duquesne juniors and seniors living off-campus has increased from last semester, which contributed to the libertine comment. In addition, Dougherty commented on a budget problem within the university and how 304 beds were empty throughout campus, even though Duquesne charges more than half of the colleges in Pennsylvania.
First, it’s ridiculous to say that the only reasons students would live off-campus are immoral. Living off-campus saves students much needed cash, which students need, since Duquesne is the 47th most expensive college in Pennsylvania out of 134, according to www.collegecalc.org. A single room at Duquesne University excluding food costs $4,621 for one semester, surpassing what most college students would pay for rent by a considerable sum.
Parents, students and alumni alike have been leaving comments on The Duquesne Duke’s article online, listing the various reasons that they are disappointed in Dougherty’s comment, ranging from inadequate room size, to the amount students pay only to be called libertines, to the unhealthy food options served and the comments go on about a variety of problems.
An alumnus said, “Before enrolling in Duquesne University, students are fully aware of the Catholic policies and tendencies; that is not the issue here. The issue at hand is that you and many (not all) other school officials live in a totally different la-la land where you do not acknowledge the problems that are already happening ‘on’ campus. Are you aware of the ‘mardi gras’ that happens on the Bluff? Students drink, have sex, do drugs and participate in the so-called ‘libertine lifestyle’ under your very own nose and if they get caught, their punishment is spending an afternoon or Saturday morning with Dan Gittins (lovely, lovely man) and taking a crash course on exactly why ‘DU CARES.’”
Second, it is shocking that Dougherty didn’t mention how students still pursue this libertine lifestyle while on campus. While it is easier for students to break the Duquesne student code of conduct and pursue their “immorality” off-campus, Duquesne has a program that’s frequently used called “DU Cares.” When students are found in violation of the drug or alcohol policy, they are required to have a sit-down meeting with a campus advisor and attend a group meeting similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Also, most drug and alcohol matters are handled through Duquesne’s personal police force, that way they get no media attention and the Duquesne name remains seemingly untarnished, as is common with most universities.
Third, what students are going to want to attend a university where the president accuses you of being immoral if you live off-campus? Students live off-campus for a variety of reasons, such as money, food, larger housing or maybe even to make their own choices as independent, young adults – not just for sex and alcohol. Shocker.
