2008 Woodie Awards
Maybe they should've had a Provost Pre-Party
The Jambar Editorial
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Opinion
In the university's search for a new provost, the candidates are each taking a few days to meet with the campus.
Their days include meetings with the president, interim provost, deans, faculty and staff, and, most importantly, students. A time is allotted in each of the three candidates' itineraries for an open forum with students.
After attending one forum and checking into another, we've found that very few students attended these forums. Unlike Penguin Pre-Parties, which often see over 100 students, the total in attendance at the forum Monday was six. That includes the candidate, members of the search committee and a staffer from The Jambar.
This time is set aside for students, yet no one is taking advantage of it. Not attending is only hurting us. We may not get to see the provost on a daily basis, and some probably don't know what a provost even does.
But that's another reason to pay attention. The provost is like the VP of the university. This person is in charge of academics, which directly affects us.
We're at the point in the semester where attending class is even a problem, but as engaged students at least a small portion should be there.
Maybe the forum wasn't well publicized. Perhaps the unusually nice Ohio weather contributed to the low attendance. But students should want to meet the candidates, who can't fully understand YSU until they meet us.
The faculty, staff and administration are an importing part of the university, but students are at the center of it. Decisions made at that level will affect us, no matter what we would like to think.
Their days include meetings with the president, interim provost, deans, faculty and staff, and, most importantly, students. A time is allotted in each of the three candidates' itineraries for an open forum with students.
After attending one forum and checking into another, we've found that very few students attended these forums. Unlike Penguin Pre-Parties, which often see over 100 students, the total in attendance at the forum Monday was six. That includes the candidate, members of the search committee and a staffer from The Jambar.
This time is set aside for students, yet no one is taking advantage of it. Not attending is only hurting us. We may not get to see the provost on a daily basis, and some probably don't know what a provost even does.
But that's another reason to pay attention. The provost is like the VP of the university. This person is in charge of academics, which directly affects us.
We're at the point in the semester where attending class is even a problem, but as engaged students at least a small portion should be there.
Maybe the forum wasn't well publicized. Perhaps the unusually nice Ohio weather contributed to the low attendance. But students should want to meet the candidates, who can't fully understand YSU until they meet us.
The faculty, staff and administration are an importing part of the university, but students are at the center of it. Decisions made at that level will affect us, no matter what we would like to think.
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