The Shorthorn - SC should focus on improving current programs and utilizing Web 2.0 in fall

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SC should focus on improving current programs and utilizing Web 2.0 in fall

Written by The Shorthorn editorial board

Tuesday, 30 June 2009 02:13 PM

Editorial Roundup

The issue: Student Congress plans to revise and incorporate new programs in the fall to increase campus community participation.

We suggest: New programs should be progressive in garnering student involvement and not a rehash of previous congress agendas.

Student Congress’ executive board hopes to gain more student interest by continuing work on programs started last year and introducing new projects such as “Maverick opinion boards” and a forum for students to express concerns to senators. We appreciate Student Congress showing its readiness to lead, but these programs have shortcomings.

A student forum is nothing new. Student Congress and the university have hosted them in the past, where in most cases low attendance made the event useless. The congress must remember UT Arlington’s student population also consists of commuting and non-traditional students. In 2008, 18.9 percent of students were between 25 to 29 years old, according to the Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness fact book. Many Mavericks do not have time to attend forums or participate in extracurricular activities.

Placing Maverick opinion boards in colleges and schools has the potential to gather student concerns. The Organization Outreach Program, which aims to create networking between senators and students, will have senators work with at least two professional and one social organization within their college per semester. But both programs are a rehash of what the nine Constituency Councils should be doing already — a liaison between the students they represent and Student Congress.

These programs seem frivolous, have the potential to waste time and provide no serious gain in affecting student involvement in university politics.

We recommend Student Congress improve its current programs like Constituency Council and incorporate progressive ideas like using the Internet as a medium to get its message across and gain students’ attention.

The Internet was one of the main reasons President Barack Obama was elected. Using Web 2.0 applications like Facebook and improving Constituency Council and Student Congress Web sites to include more student interaction could increase campus involvement.

In the Information Age, placing opinion boards on campus is not enough. Students’ live fast-paced lives and stopping, placing their opinions on bulletin boards, sadly, seems time-consuming. Something about the Internet catches people’s attention.

Being familiar with university issues is an important duty for students, and we appreciate Student Congress’ work in trying to come up with new programs to cull the best ideas from students, but progressive ideas should be the path for congress to make to strengthen student participation.

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 August 2009 10:37 AM )

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