SIX COLLEGES — For over 30 years,
Marshall
motto has been “to develop students as scholars and citizens.” This stems from
the college’s philosophy, which seeks to foster not only students’ academic
excellence but also social responsibility.
However, the recent conflict between Thurgood Marshall
College Council and Provost Allan Havis
looks to be just another instance in a long list of administrative
neglect.
But perhaps this attitude from the administration is really
a tool to gouge the social responsibility out of students.
UCSD undergrads are notoriously apathetic, and it’s only
reasonable for administrators — like Havis — to undercut the importance of
their involvement.
So when Ashanti Hands, Marshall’s dean of student affairs,
resigned last quarter, Havis thought little of student input when he created a
search committee to find her replacement.
He chartered the group over winter break — when most
students were away for the holidays, and appointed Marshall senior Prince
Ghuman and TMCC chair Lana Blank to the committee without a proper application
and interview process.
TMCC couldn’t express its frustration quickly enough. Though
councilmembers said Blank’s appointment was expected, they were upset with the
other appointee. Ghuman, who was chosen without the council’s knowledge or
input, was selected simply based on his work in a Marshall dean’s office.
Trouble erupted as Havis refused to recognize his error;
meanwhile, Ghuman remained missing in action.
The disagreement escalated when
administrators refused to reschedule the search committee’s first meeting
because of a conflict in Blank’s schedule. According to Marshall Senator Kyle
Samia — an outspoken advocate of TMCC — Havis told Blank that the first meeting
wasn’t vital, further implying that her presence and input were not important.
Samia and Blank both took offense to this, saying that it is
not up to the administrators to decide which meetings are important for students
to attend. And they’re right; Havis has already stepped extensively on the toes
of UCSD’s most active students — he isn’t even pretending to care about their
opinions.
“It’s one thing to schedule [a meeting] when I have work or
student government,” Blank said in an e-mail. “But when I have class [it] seems
completely unfair. Administrators can change their calendars and move meetings
but my job is to be a student and I cannot change my class schedules.”
But then again, from an administrative point of view this
may appear as a further example of students’ indifference.
Luckily, after a long debate, Havis and TMCC finally reached
a compromise. They decided to add a separate search committee, predicated on
the idea that it would provide a fresh perspective to the views of the existing
committee.
The only downside is that this new committee will not have
voting powers, and will be able to only offer recommendations.
Though the council attempted to convince the administration
of the importance of voting power for the new committee, Havis wouldn’t
compromise further.
Last year, a similar situation occurred during a review of
Dimension of Culture writing program, when the council wanted student
participation in an important curriculum committee. The council’s request was
rejected, however, and students were instead offered a spot on a separate
committee without voting rights.
These two instances, in addition to the dearth of Warren
College Student Council involvement in the recent general education requirement
changes, are unfortunate examples of administrative disregard.
However, blame for the lack of communication also falls on
students.
Out of UCSD’s approximately 22,000 undergrads, only a small
minority is active through student councils and organizations. Additionally,
voter turnout for issues like referenda and student representatives — which
directly affect students — is relatively low.
To administrators, this implies student apathy, prompting
them to disregard the few students who actually take an active interest in
school government.
As students see that they must stand up and force UCSD
administrators to take their opinions seriously — the way TMCC members are
attempting — they are pushed to develop into responsible citizens.
So is there a method to what appears to be administrative
madness? Involved students can only hope.
Unfortunately, the average student does not have the time or
the resources to keep themselves updated on new and upcoming policies and
procedures. Some are too busy, while many are simply disinterested.
But responsible on-campus citizenship doesn’t always have to
start and end with bureaucracy. It also includes the simple act of
participating in school activities, or voting in A.S. Council elections.
On UCSD’s apathetic campus, students need to work
hand-in-hand with administrators in order to have their opinions considered.
University leaders have a long history of stubborn disinterest in student input
— the situation with Havis is no exception — but if students are ever going to
get their voices heard, they need to tone down the complaining and start
working toward a mutual understanding. Administrators are never going to
respect student suggestions when they know they can get away with ignoring
them.
You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar,
and students need to take the hint: If they want to catch the attention of
administrators, they need to get involved.
Until then, the administration’s attitude will not change.
Readers can contact Silhan Jin at [email protected].
