On Nov. 10, University President Neil Kerwin issued a statement to the entire campus community declaring the University’s intentions to require social responsibility when working with businesses.
Likewise, on the same day, Student Government President Tim McBride issued a statement with the subject line: “Giving AU a Makeover.” In his statement, McBride essentially professed SG’s dedication to addressing student concerns while outlining a plan of action to increase the University’s financial transparency.
I must admit, I was pretty surprised at seeing both presidents’ concerted efforts to acknowledge some of our student demands and grievances. I was particularly impressed by both of the statements’ plans to create groups comprised of representatives from various student organizations in order to implement this greater responsibility and transparency.
While Kerwin proposed the creation of a “working group” of students to advise and oversee the process of holding the University’s business partners more accountable, McBride declared SG’s creation of “the Committee to Review University Spending,” a committee of ten students who will research and publish their findings about the University’s spending of our tuition money.
Although these working groups and review committees are a step forward, they are still insufficient given the broad complexities and urgency of the issues we have put forth.
Thus, it seems to me that Kerwin and McBride’s statements are more of a verbal acknowledgment of some of our declared grievances than anything else. Without a clear, specific plan of action and further evidence of it being carried out, we cannot be satisfied.
Although we all expect to be part of the administration and SG’s decision-making processes, there is only so much that can be done when we limit ourselves to working within existing frameworks.
While they may help us in the process of meeting our goals, these existing frameworks are often far too shortsighted and generally anchored in maintaining the status quo. In advocating for a return to it, this mindset affirms the status quo and, thus, limits the possibilities for achieving fundamental change.
I believe that if we hope to have our demands met for accountability and transparency (among many others), our primary focus must be on mobilizing the student body and further uniting all of our voices as they represent various student interests both on and off campus.
I am convinced that the best way to do this is to build upon the momentum of an already-established and growing movement dedicated to radical change.
In this sense, I am advocating for building up our Occupy AU movement.
This past Wednesday, we held our first successful general assembly meeting, Occupy DC-style, in the middle of the quad.
Within the past few weeks, we have held information sessions for anyone interested in the Occupy movement, particularly as it relates to student issues (increasing loans, post-graduate unemployment, etc.).
Thus far, we have formed committees to take on particular responsibilities, including building our relationship with Occupy DC, planning student actions and doing research on the issues in order to use knowledge as our ammo.
The skeptics among us may scoff: What are you occupying?
I would answer that an occupation signifies a constant, unrelenting presence. Whether or not we choose to physically occupy public spaces in our campus has yet to be determined. However, our occupation, in the sense of a vocal, demanding presence in both Kerwin’s and the Obama administration’s field of vision, is well underway.
As for myself, the central issue is student debt and the struggle to find a means to fund my education. For others, there are varying issues that are at their centers of gravity for joining the Occupy Campus movement.
Ultimately, we wish to affirm the higher standards of accountability, social responsibility and political engagement that universities, as institutions of higher learning, should primarily aim to uphold.
Besides, for what then do universities and its underlying principles of education exist, if not to foster critical resistance to anything that undermines societal progress?
Mana Aliabadi is a freshman in SPA.
