Involving student input step in right direction

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 Edward Chiao
 Kelly Rayburn

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 Edward Chiao

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The administration of this glorious university has done
something truly remarkable: it actually solicited student input on
an issue pertaining to students. The On Campus Housing Committee
and the Graduate Students Association, among others, have been
invited to help find a replacement for vice chancellor of Student
Affairs Winston Doby, who took a position as vice president of
Outreach for the UC Office of the President this year.

As unaccustomed as we may be to this novel concept of student
involvement, this is no time to be shocked into inactivity. Student
input will supposedly be a major factor in selecting the sole
member of the administration who acknowledges their responsibility
to Student Affairs.

Unfortunately, the university continues to view student affairs
as separate from university affairs ““ it admittedly
doesn’t solicit student input in many other hiring and policy
decisions. But these two “affairs” are often
intricately linked. The administration should change its current
stance on student input from individual cases to standing policy.
If the university had solicited student input in 1995, our current
chancellor might have been met with applause instead of defiantly
raised fists during his inauguration.

Student input at a public university should be considered
nothing less than a right. Like any other right, though, it is
rendered useless when neglected by those to whom it belongs. It is
easy to blame the university, but the reality is students
aren’t using the opportunities for input available.