Students want a voice. We read the letters to the editor, the posters, the chalk across Wilder Bowl; we know. For that reason students are allotted seats on faculty committees. Students on these committees have input into decisions made that will affect all students, such as changes in the credit system, and the ever-controversial structuring of the Multicultural Resource Center. However, not all the spots on these committees have been filled this year and remain empty for the coming year, thus threatening the amount of student input that will be heard on important issues.
The Student Senate interviews students and makes decisions about who will sit on committees during the upcoming academic year. The interview process is currently underway for the 2002-2003 year, but there are still many committees that do not have all the available seats filled and do not even necessarily have candidates that will fill these spots. The Housing and Dining Committee, the Athletics Committee, Forum Board and the Standing Committee on Pluralism and Equality are just a few committees that are currently in need of student members for the next academic year.
For example, Special Committe On Plurality and Equality is a committee that, according to the Student Senate website, is “charged with answering the question of what can be done at Oberlin to maintain, strengthen and improve its legislated commitment to minorities and to foster richer and more meaningful patterns of integration and understanding between and among minority students, programs and interests, and those of the larger community.” SCOPE was the committee that was the most involved in the decisions concerning the MRC and in other programs that work for minority groups on campus. The membership of the committee consists of four administrators, four faculty members, and four students. Only one student is currently active in SCOPE.
“Over the years I have asked Senate to appoint students but not in the past couple years and this year we haven’t felt the need,” College President Nancy Dye said.
Without students on such committees, student input into the way in which Oberlin is run will be greatly reduced. A strong student body committed to making the most of the education offered has been a trademark of Oberlin and is at risk without the input of students at the level of these committees. Students interested in interviewing to take a seat on a committee should contact the Student Senate at osenate@oberlin.edu. There are also sign-up sheets outside the Senate office (Wilder 222) for Forum and SCOPE interviews.