2008 Woodie Awards
SWEENEY'S SIDE: Don't settle for silence
John Sweeney
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Voices & Times
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The idea was to give students the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns to their elected student representatives. The concerns, according to SGA, will be noted and presented to the appropriate authorities on behalf of the student body. SGA said they will relay the progress back to students.
The meeting, hailed a success by SGA President Everett "Robbie" Robinson, got off to a rocky start.
At the beginning of the meeting, there were two obvious problems: less than 30 students were at the meeting, and getting questions initially was similar to pulling teeth.
After nearly five minutes of incredibly awkward silence, someone finally asked a question. After that, others began to raise their hands, and the meeting ended with more than 30 questions and concerns voiced.
The meeting wasn't perfect, but it was a good start. SGA was making a concerted effort to listen to students. They had been presented with a problem - students felt their concerns weren't being heard - and they came up with a solution, the town hall meeting.
SGA should be praised. What they did was appropriate and timely. That being said, if the next meeting mirrors January's, that praise will not be repeated.
Two things must happen in order for the February town hall meeting to be truly successful. First, the questions and concerns from the last meeting need to be answered. At the very least, SGA has to show they have presented the problems to the appropriate officials and have received, or are waiting for, responses. If they don't keep the student body in the loop, these meetings will be worth nothing.
Second, more students need to show up at the February meeting.
Not to be overdramatic, but the very fate of the legitimacy of SGA and the future of campus life might rely on these points. If these two points don't become reality, then what occurred in the first five minutes of the January meeting will be the fate of student life across campus.
Nothing will happen.
It all comes down to student participation, from both SGA and the student body. Whether it's regarding campus activities and organizations or policy issues with the university, nothing can happen if students don't take action.
There are many opportunities for students to participate in on-campus activities. For those who enjoy uttering the phrase "There's nothing to do on campus," consider the following.
We have some pretty darn good sports teams here. Check out our woman's basketball team if you don't think so. In the last five years, FMU has seen a national championship and nationally-recognized teams. If you don't know when teams are playing, click here.
As far as cultural events go, there were tons to choose from in January alone.
Aside from the usual events, for which a schedule can be found on the university Web site, the campus has had multiple visits from presidential campaigns. Students could meet Mitt Romney, Chelsea Clinton, Michelle Obama, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Tucker, America Ferrera and Amber Tamblyn without even leaving campus.
The bottom line is this: your university is only as good as you want it to be. If you don't know when the next big event will be, ask someone. Visit your professors, Dean of Students Teresa Ramey, Vice President for Student Affairs Darryl Bridges or other members of the faculty and staff.
All of these officials go out of their way to make themselves available to you, so take advantage of that. Don't be afraid to ask questions - it's their job to give you answers, and they enjoy doing it.
In the end, students are the ones who create opportunities here. Fortunately for us, we have an SGA that seems dedicated to enhancing student life.
But we can't let it stop with those officers and senators. You have to take the initiative, too.
Go to the next town hall meeting, ask the representatives what happened to the last group of concerns and keep on them until you get answers. If you want to see an event on campus, suggest it. If you have a question, ask it.
In the mean time, go out there and do something yourself.
Don't settle for silence.
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