From: Dannyman <djhoward@uiuc.edu>
To: housing@uiuc.edu
Cc: KCOURTNE@admin.housing.uiuc.edu, GFOLTZ@admin.housing.uiuc.edu
Subject: web page concerns, abusive employee

Good day,

I am writing for two reasons. The first concern I have is the more urgent, and the second is the more heartfelt. I hope that the appropriate time and consideration may be taken to respond to my concerns.

The first issue I would like to address is a page located at http://www.housing.uiuc.edu/dining/mealtimes/mt_index.html - it has three very bad flaws;
1) It does not provide information relevant to all residence halls. For example, what are the hours of operation of Allen Hall?
2) Whomever authored the page seems unaware of the fact that special codes in HTML are terminated with a ';' - there are several bits all over the page that read ' ' which would be rendered properly if they had been entered ' '
3) There is no contact information so that the page author can be notified. This makes the page non-compliant with UIUCnet administrative policy. There is broken link to what appears to be a form for contacting an individual named Jean Flood, whom I am unable to find information for in PH.

The second issue I take much more seriously, and by which as a URH resident and a student at the University of Illinois, I am gravely offended.

I sought to have corrections to this page addressed. The original message got nowhere, so I submitted another version to the email alias uidsa@uiuc.edu, which is listed in PH as 'University of Illinois Dining Services'.

The tone of my original message was considerably condescending. I have dealt with so many web pages in my time that I get extremely frustrated when trying to extract information from any page which is poorly constructed, with an obvious lack of attention to detail. The response I received in turn though, was shockingly unprofessional, rude, and sbusive.

This response was from a Mr Andrew N Pasulka, who is listed in PH as a second level Computer Utilization Analyst. What such a person is doing responding to web page concerns is beyond me, but for some reason he saw it fit to send a harassing message to a colleague of mine, Mr Tony Baylis, make disparaging remarks about my age, and otherwise behave in a manner wholly unbefitting of any professional, particularly one who is apparently responsible for addressing student concerns.

I have for some time been concerned with the attitude URH takes toward its residents. I have been living in the Residence Halls for three years now, and am this year taking a more active stand in the way things are run, and wish to voice my concerns in a more positive way. It becomes difficult to feel that one can contribute anything positive to the system when one is met by a representative whose conduct and outright contempt for me as as resident, a student, and a student employee, is so forcibly impressed upon me.

I would like to know what the Housing Administration might be doing with regards to ensuring that their officials conduct themselves in a professional manner, with due respect and consideration given to those they are employed to serve. If Mr Pasulka's remarks and contemptible attitude are at all representative of URH's policy and feelings toward its residents, I would like to know why. If these remarks are not representative of Housing's concerns, I would again like to know why I am receiving such treatment in regards to a housing matter from one of it's employees.

Attached is a record of email correspondence between myself and Mr Pasulka. Subsequent to the original message, I have done my best to maintain a frank and constructive attitude regarding these concerns. I have not been met with like recognition on the part of your agent. This situation seems most regrettable to me.

I hope to continue with yet another year here as a student at the University of Illinois, and as a resident in its Residence Halls. I hope that my time remaining here may be spent well, with common good will both on my part and on the part of University Housing. I will do what I can to live up to my end of this arrangement, and I hope to hear some constructive response on your part to be assured that this sentiment is in fact mutual.

Sincerely,
Dan Howard
Third Year Resident,
171 Allen Hall

[View Attachment]
10 September -- 1997
H O M E