No students on the road

No students on the road

By Editorial · The Johns Hopkins News-Letter · October 31, 2002

Last Thursday, an event called "On the Road with the Deans" was held in the AMR I reading room at 3:30 p.m. A number of deans were present to talk to students and answer questions, including Dean of Student Life Susan Boswell, Dean of the School of Engineering Ilene Busch-Vishniac, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Daniel H. Weiss and Dean of Enrollment and Academic Services William T. Conley. The number of students in attendance? Two.

There are a number of possible reasons why turnout was so pathetic. Although the event was well-advertised, the topic listed, "The Freshman Year Experience," quite possibly deterred a number of students. Sophomores, juniors and seniors aren't likely to turn out for such a topic and many freshmen may not care to discuss their limited experience. The advertisers could have made clearer that the event was an opportunity for all students to communicate with their administrators about any topic, be it food, social programming or academics. Labeling the discussion with a narrow topic can have the effect of turning off would-be attendees.

Another contributing factor to the poor attendance may have been the time during which the event took place; many students have class at 3:30 p.m. The deans should explore scheduling future discussions for later in the evening, when students are more likely to be free.

Finally, although there were chips served at the event, refreshments were not emphasized in publicity. The deans need only look at the various flyers posted by other campus organizations to know that food is a major tool for drawing attendees.

But these minor suggestions should hardly be necessary. Should students really need to be bribed with food to attend events that are aimed at their own well-being? Do freshmen really need the lure of snacks just to go downstairs to the AMR Reading Room?

To students who were potentially unaware of the significance of this event: four Hopkins deans, individuals who have the power to make real changes on campus, gathered together in the same room to answer students'questions and hear students'ideas. The administration is meeting students more than half-way. What more could they do, short of going door-to-door, begging for input? We commend the administration for reaching out to the student body, and we regretfully admit that the laziness of Hopkins students has rendered their first attempt futile.

There is no debating the benefits that student-administration collaborations have rendered in the past. The return of Spring Fair to the quads, the addition of the Levering meal equivalency option and the meal plan changes in the works have all resulted from communication and cooperation between students and administrators.

The deans have already made plans to improve turnout for the next discussion; they hope to line up various student groups to help get the word out, and might offer donuts rather than chips. However, the onus must be on students to take advantage of the events the deans are offering.

Weiss indicated that the discussion series might not be "the most productive mechanism" for interacting with students. We have written before that the administration needs to do more to respond to student needs and ideas. Now they are. If this new discussion series fails, it will not be the fault of its sponsors. As mentioned, publicity for the event was more than adequate. E-mails, posters, word-of-mouth and an advertisement in this newspaper all let students know about the first discussion event in the series. Those who weren't aware just weren't paying attention. And that's the problem.

For years, students have complained that this university needs changes; for years, they have complained that the administration just doesn't care. Now, when the administration is making a concerted effort to reach out, the response has been apathy. Students who cannot motivate themselves enough to take the simplest steps in making themselves heard have no right to whine about bland food, boring social events or unreasonable professors.

Administrators have created the opportunity for an important dialogue to begin with students. It is our hope that students will seize the opportunity. Student Council has met with administrators and done their fair share to bring about change. The administration is doing their part to communicate with the entire student body. Now, ordinary students need to do their part. If they don't - if apathy continues to be the norm - the results will be detrimental to us all.