2008 Woodie Awards
Delegate's Agenda meeting misses mark on real concerns
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial
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It's disappointing that students care more about illuminating the Quad than how their tuition dollars are dispersed. It's sad, but then again, that's Webster.
At a Feb. 20 Delegate's Agenda meeting, the Student Government Association and about 30 student leaders of campus organizations had Webster University President Richard Meyers and other administrators at their mercy - and free reign to ask whatever their little hearts desired. However, this isn't exactly true, especially since these student leaders could only discuss seven items - from a list of 21.
These same students met with the SGA Feb. 9 to brainstorm a list of what they would like to see improved on campus. Twenty-one campus concerns arose during that meeting, but this select portion of the student body only could vote for the top seven to address at the Delegate's Agenda.
While narrowing down a lengthy list of options sounds progressive, we wonder why seven was the magical number. Why not eight, nine or 10? Perhaps there is a reason for the lucky No. 7 - or maybe someone just rolled the dice and that's where it landed.
The Journal questions why a Delegate's Agenda is held a once semester. Perhaps the Agenda could meet once a month, or even every other month. Surely students are concerned with what's going on around campus more than once a semester.
Maybe university administrators are just too busy to meet with students - the same students whose tuition dollars help put food on their table. This lack of availability on the part of Meyers, Dave Garafola, vice president of finance, and Deborah Dey, vice president of students and enrollment management tells students their opinions don't matter. It seems the big wigs in the tower of power are just pretending to listen to student concerns instead of actually doing so. Too bad - they might learn something.
If The Journal had the opportunity to tell administrators our concerns on campus, we doubt "bookstore costumer service" and "space for student organizations" would be high on the agenda, if at all. We got to thinking, and devised our own list of what we'd bring to the table at the Delegate's Agenda.
At a Feb. 20 Delegate's Agenda meeting, the Student Government Association and about 30 student leaders of campus organizations had Webster University President Richard Meyers and other administrators at their mercy - and free reign to ask whatever their little hearts desired. However, this isn't exactly true, especially since these student leaders could only discuss seven items - from a list of 21.
These same students met with the SGA Feb. 9 to brainstorm a list of what they would like to see improved on campus. Twenty-one campus concerns arose during that meeting, but this select portion of the student body only could vote for the top seven to address at the Delegate's Agenda.
While narrowing down a lengthy list of options sounds progressive, we wonder why seven was the magical number. Why not eight, nine or 10? Perhaps there is a reason for the lucky No. 7 - or maybe someone just rolled the dice and that's where it landed.
The Journal questions why a Delegate's Agenda is held a once semester. Perhaps the Agenda could meet once a month, or even every other month. Surely students are concerned with what's going on around campus more than once a semester.
Maybe university administrators are just too busy to meet with students - the same students whose tuition dollars help put food on their table. This lack of availability on the part of Meyers, Dave Garafola, vice president of finance, and Deborah Dey, vice president of students and enrollment management tells students their opinions don't matter. It seems the big wigs in the tower of power are just pretending to listen to student concerns instead of actually doing so. Too bad - they might learn something.
If The Journal had the opportunity to tell administrators our concerns on campus, we doubt "bookstore costumer service" and "space for student organizations" would be high on the agenda, if at all. We got to thinking, and devised our own list of what we'd bring to the table at the Delegate's Agenda.
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