For some students, Baker University Center seems more like a train station than a student union ' the escalators are a convenient way to get from one place to another. For others, it's an office or a meeting room. But with better organization and communication in the events department, the building has the potential to be much more.
That's why hiring Sujit Chemburkar inspires a little hope. As a director of Baker University Center and University Events, Chemburkar will oversee the organization of events in Baker University Center and Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. The goal is to streamline planning by having one person in charge of all the events at these venues.
While The Post has often been critical of the university's decisions to create new upper-level positions, the newest administrator ' who will earn $78,000 a year ' actually seems likely to focus on improving the student experience, which Baker's leadership has not always been able to do. For example, last year, Baker employees had to turn down popular music act Arcade Fire because of an inability to prepare on short notice. The band was able to find another venue in Athens, but the event could have been an opportunity not only to provide a desired student event, but to put Baker on display.
Chemburkar's comments about his new job, which he will begin October 20, are encouraging. In an interview with a Post reporter, he spoke about having a student-oriented approach ' a good foundation for what is fundamentally a student center. Even better, Chemburkar brought up the need for accountability and fiscal responsibility, which is imperative in an era of financial uncertainty and sweeping statewide budget cuts.
At this point, of course, those are just words. But with a little follow-through, reorganization and new leadership might turn out to be just what Baker needs.
-
17 Archives
New OU events administrator might be BakerG
