University officials ask for student input. The students respond. University officials ignore the students' suggestions. With few exceptions, this has been the typical cycle over the past few years. It would be a breath of fresh air if this turns out not to be the case with this year's Student General Fee Committee.
The student committee was asked to draft proposals for three scenarios involving the general fee ' a 3, 5 or 10 percent cut. Amid a slew of tough decisions, the members of the committee rose to the challenge.
These are tough economic times for Ohio University. Obviously, it is up for debate whether the committee made the best decisions in its recommendations ' it is subjective, not cut-and-dry. But the more important question is what university officials will do with the students' input.
If the administration chooses to ignore student input ' as it did with last year's student general fee committee ' that would be a terrible mistake. The committee worked hard to present a logical budget that could help the university. OU administrators need to realize that if students are going to take the time to care, then officials should also care about that input. If administrators choose not to use the committee's suggestions, they should at least give justifications for that decision. And if administrators are going to cast aside those carefully considered recommendations, then they should not waste committee members' time to begin with.
This is a plea to OU officials: Consider these students' recommendations. They just want what is best for everyone involved. The same is true of OU administrators, we think, although they have a funny way of showing it sometimes. Here's a chance to prove it.
Listen to students ' and incorporate some of their suggestions. There has to be some common ground.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the executive editors.-
17 Archives
Officials should consider studentsG
