Attentive readers of the Elm may have noticed a bit of a change from last year.
"What happened to all those editorials criticizing the administration?" some readers might be wondering, scratching their heads. "What happened to the 'music issue'? Or the foreign language issue? Or even post-tenure review? It seems like this year's editorials have been dishing out an awful lot of compliments. Why is there so much 'love' on the opinion page this year?"
While there have been some critical editorials this semester, the truth is that a great number of them have been rather positive -- offering compliments to everyone from Dave Knowles and the WCDS to Bob Hooey and the Student Activities Board. Certainly, several members of the Elm staff have also written opinion articles that are critical of some administrators' comments or of certain social policies. But many editorials -- which are written to reflect the position of the Elm as an institution, rather than any one writer's viewpoint -- have been quite positive.
Ultimately, there are several reasons for the apparent shift in tone.
One factor is simply that there have been many good things going on here.
In the two examples cited above, groups on this campus (WCDS and the Student Activities Board) performed in a manner that exceeded most people's expectations -- the Elm staff included. Credit should be given where credit is due.Moreover, many of the positive changes on campus this year seem to be informed by some of last year's problems. The groups involved are that much more effective in reaching consensus on difficult issues, such as the school's social and alcohol policies, having learned how to handle these situations (and how not to handle these situations) based on their experiences in last year's highly charged displays of campus politics.
When growing numbers of students found the social situation on campus to be unacceptable at the beginning of this semester, the Sophomore Class Board led the charge to get student voices heard. With input from the SGA and support from the student body, they raised their concerns with members of the Board of Visitors and Governors and with administrators. The reception was remarkably sympathetic, especially when compared to the last time students tried to sway the Board's opinion with a petition and a display of student concern. Even though the issues at stake in each incident are not even remotely comparable -- students' ability to enjoy social events safely, compared to allocating funds to hire an additional music professor -- it still seems like a victory.
Last year's controversies resulted in an increased number of students who are remarkably savvy when it comes to campus politics and who understand how to make students' views count. This is also an extremely encouraging development.
But it's not just the students who have learned from last year's problems.
Administrators and board members also seem to have a renewed appreciation for the benefits of considering students' viewpoints: of seeking out their opinions, engaging in dialogues, and responding to their concerns. Again, the social issues from earlier this year are a strong case-in-point. In response to the students' concerns, board members and administrators expressed concern and eagerness to talk with students to work on both temporary and long-term solutions. Specifically, the meeting between student leaders, Public Safety, and administrators -- coordinated by Dean of Student Affairs Maureen McIntire -- was a remarkable step toward opening a dialogue and working to create solutions. The solutions that have resulted have obviously not all been flawless, but the most impressive part has been the dialogue that contributed to those solutions in the first place.There's also a possibility that the administration is being a bit more cautious in how it approaches controversial issues, as a result of last year's problems. Many of last year's issues quickly degenerated into "lose-lose" situations, where neither side could back down without losing face and neither side could possibly walk away from the table with a clear, unquestionable victory.
There are controversial issues which are coming to the fore this semester, ranging from the faculty's need for day care on campus, to staff representation to the Board of Visitors and Governors. However, early indications suggest that progress is being made. Even though there are differences of opinion, it hasn't degenerated into standoff. And this, too, is commendable.
This is not to say that it's all clear sailing from here. Many of last year's issues were never resolved to all parties' satisfaction, and those still must be addressed. Moreover, the Elm staff is aware of a number of specific issues that are waiting in the wings, any one of which could get very ugly, very quickly.
In the meantime, though, things on this campus have been going rather smoothly. A newspaper's goal should not be only to criticize, but also to point out successes. And in the opinion of many of the Elm's editors, there have been quite a few successes.
300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 | 410-778-2800 | 800-422-1782