Personal Point of View: SGA President Combs offers Eastern constructive criticism
Alex Combs
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Perspective
I had trouble deciding how to go about writing my last message to the Progress. First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who helped me get through what was the most difficult and rewarding year of my life. Overall, this has been a great experience, and I want to say I have truly appreciated everyone involved in it. I enjoyed helping SGA make progress. I enjoyed rebuilding bridges that were broken before me, so that criticism could be looked at as constructive instead as vindictive. Despite many disagreements, we must accept our obligation to work together in order to benefit the greater whole, whether it is among individuals in our own organization or other offices at this university. I have experienced all that Eastern has to offer, but with this experience comes concern that I must address, for I consider myself a patriot of Eastern, and we all know dissent is the highest form of patriotism.
I love Eastern. She has forever made a difference in my life, and I will forever be loyal to her. I love many of the people who learn and work here. However, Eastern is not perfect, and with that in mind, I would be sorely remiss if all I did was extend compliments and not take this public forum as an opportunity to frankly express what further needs to be done.
To all students - I have spent this year trying to overcome the apathy among this body to no real avail. Your apathy is killing the role of the student in shaping our experience here. Every time you assume someone else should be doing the work or making the change you deem necessary, you burden those willing to work with an overwhelming load, ultimately making us less effective as a government and less legitimate as a student body. I regret this message will go unnoticed by those who need to see it, as those students representing the small readership of the Progress serve as the exception.
To faculty - your PhD makes you an expert in your field, but when it comes to Eastern, please don't assume you know more than many students. I was not particularly impressed by the willingness of Faculty Senate to cooperate in shared governance when it was the student who wished to participate. Unfortunately, I have encountered many faculty who believe students should play no role in university governance. Please stop treating us like children. To those supportive faculty - your help goes greatly appreciated and please try to convince your colleagues that we deserve a serious role.
I love Eastern. She has forever made a difference in my life, and I will forever be loyal to her. I love many of the people who learn and work here. However, Eastern is not perfect, and with that in mind, I would be sorely remiss if all I did was extend compliments and not take this public forum as an opportunity to frankly express what further needs to be done.
To all students - I have spent this year trying to overcome the apathy among this body to no real avail. Your apathy is killing the role of the student in shaping our experience here. Every time you assume someone else should be doing the work or making the change you deem necessary, you burden those willing to work with an overwhelming load, ultimately making us less effective as a government and less legitimate as a student body. I regret this message will go unnoticed by those who need to see it, as those students representing the small readership of the Progress serve as the exception.
To faculty - your PhD makes you an expert in your field, but when it comes to Eastern, please don't assume you know more than many students. I was not particularly impressed by the willingness of Faculty Senate to cooperate in shared governance when it was the student who wished to participate. Unfortunately, I have encountered many faculty who believe students should play no role in university governance. Please stop treating us like children. To those supportive faculty - your help goes greatly appreciated and please try to convince your colleagues that we deserve a serious role.
Be the first to comment on this story