George D. Robinson Sr.
Chancellor Walter Wendler's forum last Tuesday to discuss his proposed tuition increase was a good first step in providing direct communication to the students at SIUC. Unfortunately, it seems that the final result was confusing activity with accomplishment. Though Thursday's forum had better attendance, the chancellor's choice of venue and time for Tuesday's were a sure recipe for a low student turnout - be it intended or unattended. I am a non-traditional adult student attending SIUC. I have extensive experience in public speaking, and my informed observation is that holding such an important forum at its time and location on Tuesday was a mistake. These reasons include:
First, the forum took place at 3:30 p.m., in the middle of the afternoon on a school day. I, like hundreds, if not thousands, of students have class immediately in front, during or immediately after this time. Second, the location of the forum was "off the beaten path" from the main campus area. Many undergraduate students have never been introduced to the Law School or its distinguished facilities. The "graduate, professional atmosphere" of this location could also be a bit intimidating for many younger students. Certainly, a more central location on the main campus - such as the Student Center or the auditoriums at Lawson Hall, Pulliam Hall, or Wham - would have been better choices for the students who were the targeted audience.
Third, most events, especially speaking events require marketing. The Public Policy Institute and the University Honors Program both do a fine job in promoting their speakers (well in advance) by ads in the Daily Egyptian and numerous flyers around campus. If we have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on image consultants, surely a couple of hundred dollars could have been spent on informing the student body on a forum of such importance and impact. To illustrate my point, our Admissions Office understands the dynamics of speaking to its audience at the right place and right time. The chancellor's location and time on Tuesday would be much like our campus recruiters going to an area community college and setting up their information table in an obscure, outer-most wing of the building or campus at 9:00 p.m. And then being surprised that they talked to few, if any, students.
Fourth, and lastly, administrators must recognize that most students are not the economic decision makers as it relates to their tuition. Most students are dependent on family financial resources or financial aid (or both) for tuition payment. Simply, many students feel they have no real voice in the events they find surrounding them. As such, apathy is by-product of their frustration. Equally frustrating to me is the Daily Egyptian's editorial and treatment of SIUC students as "... pathetic," "... dismal," and "... embarrassing" in this matter. While the Daily Egyptian's cover story tried to present balanced coverage, this was lost by the "Gus Bode" commentary, a continued article instruction that directed readers to page eight, but was found on page 10, and a zealot editorial.
I respect Chancellor Wendler's good intentions and efforts to improve SIUC. He has worked very hard in informing the Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, the media and even student government. However, somewhere in all of this, the students themselves seem to be forgotten, or at best minimized. In addition, it is troublesome to me that the lack of meaningful communication that is still required by our administrators to the student body directly is further criticized and blame laid on the students by the Daily Egyptian.
Mr. Robinson Sr., is a junior in management and pre-professional medical science and USG Senator-Elect for Evergreen Terrace. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
