We've witnessed quite a deal this fall semester. Merely a few months after AU students harassed a White House chief of staff, the Princeton Review stripped us of our "most politically active" status. After months of complaining about D.C. cab rates, the mayor heeded our suggestions and cab drivers went on strike. From misleading surveys to protests, a cappella performance space squabbles to AUCC funding crises, this page has editorialized on a great deal of controversy this semester. The spring is sure to be just as eventful.
While it is difficult to remember arcane policy changes and theoretical reforms when buried under 15-page papers and the distractions of snow, there are a few key issues that The Eagle editorial board will keep on our radar this holiday season. We hope you do the same.
Kerwin's presidency
In his first official semester as university president, Neil Kerwin is on his way to winning the hearts and minds of the AU community. The rather dubious exit of former president Ben Ladner, of course, made this task considerably easy. Still, Kerwin's pay has dropped to about half that of his predecessor, to $475,000 this year from $881,696 in the 2004-2005 academic year.
In less materialistic terms, Kerwin is working closely with the students and faculty of AU to develop a strategic plan for the university instead of arbitrarily imposing his own. He has managed to pull the school back from the abyss of controversy, and besides all that, he seems like a pretty decent guy.
More forums for student input
Despite its frequent reshuffling, the SG has attempted to increase student input through public forums. This semester has seen discussions of smoking, trustees and diversity, allowing student voices on these essential issues to reach the ears of those controlling policy.
Next semester, the SG should make efforts to increase participation by promoting the events more widely, choosing times that work best for students and continuing to offer free food to attendees. We at The Eagle would like to see forums on off-campus and on-campus drinking and the Student Bill of Rights. Issues raised at previous forums, like a proposed courtesy policy for smokers, should be reconsidered during dialogues in the coming months.
The "green" dream
AU has taken considerable efforts toward environmental sustainability this semester, as epitomized in "The American Dream is Green" marketing campaign. The recent consideration of hybrid shuttles and the commitment to eco-friendly architecture in the new School of International Service building highlight AU's efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. Innovative changes to routines, such as Trayless Tuesdays at TDR, involve both the students and the administration working together to enact change.
Nevertheless, the sprinklers still run every day, rain or shine, drought or not. And the environmental records of companies that AU invests in remain sealed to the student body. It is great that progress is finally underway.
Expansion of university authority
To state bluntly, the university has expanded its unwanted authority too much this semester. AU's decision to enforce an unfair regulation that makes D.C. law infractions inherent violations of the Student Conduct Code is double jeopardy parenting at best. And the Office of Campus Life's more recent proposal to require all students living off-campus to register their addresses with the university is equally disgraceful.
Students would be wrong to forget AU's missteps over winter break. The Office of Campus Life does not expect to finalize its address proposal until next spring, so students should remember some of their independence is at stake. In short, now would be a better time than ever for the SG to raise awareness and represent the students as they were elected to do.
SG election controversies
Four months of resignations and confusing election procedures, five staff editorials highlighting our seemingly redundant concerns. True, Student Government has does a decent job this December engaging students on a variety of issues; yet, the most we'll remember of this semester's SG is that only one original executive remains.
At the very least, President Joe Vidulich now has the daunting task of holding the infant SG together. Secretary Cait Douglas, capable and experienced as she may be, still seems overshadowed by the mysterious and premature departure of her predecessor, Alex Manzanares. Similarly, Vice President-elect Paul Grever owes the student body an explanation for his campaign tactics. Even though the Board of Elections ruled in his favor, Grever has been rather silent on his conduct.
But whatever the answer to these concerns may be, SG executives need to remember who elected them in the first place. And students should remember their role, too: The SG execs are accountable to us. Silence is to our own detriment.
