In Issue 4 of The Signal, we printed a letter written by Associated Students, Inc. President Mariam Salameh and Vice President Marvin Hooker. The student representatives’ purpose was to share their “frustration about the lack of campus unity, lack of collaboration, lack of effective communication necessary to move the university forward and most importantly, the failure to acknowledge that students are the most important stakeholders to this university.”
First, we would like to applaud Salameh and Hooker for speaking up as student leaders and addressing issues they have encountered to the entire campus community. However, it is now The Signal’s job as the voice of the student body to respond.
When using written communication to express to a campus community about any issue, there needs to be evidence behind the arguments.
Where is the lack of unity, collaboration and effective communication that Salameh and Hooker speak of? This is a serious claim that goes unsupported.
Salameh and Hooker write, “We have come to the conclusion that our university has forgotten what it means to serve students.”
The administration, faculty and staff constantly work with the best interest of the students through outlets such as the faculty-mentor program, the One Purpose scholarship campaign, President Sheley’s recurring challenge for faculty to “adopt” a student and low-income, first-generation support programs to name a few.
Yes, we can always strive to do more, but to say that the service of students has been forgotten is only hyperbolical. We have a dedicated campus community all promoting success for all students.
We found eight instances in the letter in which Salameh and Hooker refer to “the university” through a big brother-like mentality.
For example, Salameh and Hooker write, “We understand the importance of the university making decisions from a business standpoint; however, the key factor missing from the equation is actually listening to students when seeking their input.”
The use of “university” here seems like a muted way of calling out those who the frustration is meant towards.
If it is recognition, credibility and respect that you are in search for from the administration, this letter does not reflect that.