The definition of the “UCSD experience” and the ways in which the campus could pull students, faculty and administration into a collective community were the topics emphasized by A.S. President Christopher Sweeten in the first annual State of the Campus address, a speech about the events that have transpired during the 2005-06 student government term.
A.S. President Christopher Sweeten touted student rights during his State of the Campus address in front of faculty and peers on Feb. 22.
In the address, Sweeten discussed the various programs available to help with tutoring, financial aid and student outreach, as well as the status of the federal budget, campus housing, Student-Run Television and UCSD’s relationship to the La Jolla community.
“Students will continue to graduate from a great university, but want nothing to do with it once they graduate,” Sweeten said, describing a lack of Triton spirit illustrated in the recent Undergraduate Student Experience and Satisfaction report.
He proposed several remedies, including increased interaction between the six colleges and reconsideration of standing policies that instill a feeling of allegiance to a particular college and not the university itself.
“As soon as you walk through the door, you should be a Triton,” he said. “You should be UCSD.”
On the topic of federal budget, Sweeten explained the role that the A.S. Council has taken in order to prevent the federal government from raiding the financial aid of students.
“We actually caused the Senate to go into an uproar,” he said, describing how Vice President Dick Cheney was called upon to cast the tie-breaking vote that ultimately passed the House of Representative in February. Although the vote was detrimental to the council’s cause, Sweeten appeared optimistic about the end result.
“This was the power of students,” he said. “It was to ensure that our voices, as students, will be heard.”
Sweeten quickly returned to the state of affairs on campus, addressing concerns related to transfer-student housing and urging the university administration to take a stand against the condominium conversion process that has forced large numbers of students out of their leases in recent months.
“This is the campaign to take back La Jolla,” Sweeten said. “Make [it] the city where you can feel welcome and not feel like a bother. A lot of times La Jolla just wants to keep us secluded on this hill, and not allow us to go into the community.”
While the North Campus housing project is designed to provide housing for newly admitted transfer students, Sweeten cautioned against using similar distinctions to differentiate student groups from each other.
“We must bridge these factions that we have on campus,” he said.
Regarding the Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services Program, which provides tutoring services to students who are seeking academic aid, Sweeten urged administrators to reconsider the program’s budgeting formula and cuts that are forcing O.A.S.I.S. to limit some of its services.
“This will create a division on campus,” Sweeten said. “When a student wants assistance in a subject, they should get it.”
Sweeten also announced the recent approval of the SRTV charter, in which he says the council “believe[s] in with all [its] hearts.”
Directing his comments to the administrators, he again emphasized the desire for the students to regain control over the originally student-managed station.
“We ask that the administration return SRTV to the students, where it belongs, so students can have their voice on the Triton Cable station,” he said.
Although acting Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life Gary R. Ratcliff confirmed that the station will not be restored until all his demands for content regulation have been adequately met, Sweeten appeared hopeful that the situation could be resolved amicably.
Similarly, Sweeten addressed the role of student advisory boards and the lack of attention they are often given by the administration, specifically referencing the expansion of the Price Center currently under construction.
“Advisory boards are just that,” Sweeten said. “They advise. But there are students on this campus who live this every day. They know how they want to have their money spent.”
Ultimately, Sweeaten cited the necessity for students to band together and deal with the problems facing UCSD students as one collective, unified body.
“The importance of this event is community,” he said. “However, this is also to prove that the students of this campus care. The state of the campus can only get stronger, and that’s through the power of the student.”
When asked during the question and answer session what advice Sweeten would give his successor of the A.S. presidency, he responded that “the main thing is to stay true to yourself. We all come in here with our own agendas in the sense that we know what we want to accomplish. Stay true to that, but to the students as well.”
