When Asher Lisec started to get involved with the Student Government Association her freshman year, she didn't think she could make a difference -- but she did.
After 30 cars located in various parking lots were broken into during the month of January, Lisec started working with Gene Burton, police chief, and Jim Lowe, director of facilities planning and management, to get cameras set up in the campus parking lots.
"I never thought I could make a difference," she said. "We actually got cameras put in the parking lots, and then [SGA] was just kind of addicting."
The governing structure Ball State University has in place allows plenty of opportunities for students to get involved. It also provides them with places and people they can go to, if they have issues or concerns.
One place students can bring concerns is the Campus Council, of which Lisec is the chair. The council is primarily made up of students, along with some faculty members, and it oversees different standing committees, such as public safety, Lisec said.
"The job of this council is to address concerns that affect students on campus," Lisec said. "If a concern is brought forth to the Campus Council, the Council will assign a faculty- and student-based committee to look into the concern a little more closely."
After the committee looks into the concern, Lisec said a resolution can be drafted to solve the problem, and then it is presented to University Senate.
"The nice thing about University Councils and Committees is that input is given from both faculty and students," Lisec said. "Unlike SGA, where it is students working with students to address a concern, students get to work with faculty and staff to come to a joint decision."
University Senate is the body within the governing system that has a voice at Board of Trustees meetings. Ultimately, though, the Board of Trustees and the president make the final decisions.
Lisec is currently filling the 72 student appointments to various councils and committees, which are other options for students to get involved.
"I took over the task because I thought it was something that was very important, if students wanted a voice on campus," Lisec said.
There are still available seats, and students who are interested just have to stop by the SGA office -- L.A. Pittenger room 223 -- and get an application.
Lisec said students shouldn't worry too much about the time commitment. Most councils and committees only meet once a month.
"It's as much as you want to give it," she said.
Of course, students don't have to get involved to get something changed, they just need to bring it to someone's attention.
"If someone never expressed a concern, we could never get anything done," Lisec said.
Marilyn Buck, former chairperson of University Senate, said she encourages students to get involved and have their voices heard.
"It may take longer than they want it to, but they're heard," Buck said. "It's critical for the students to realize they do play a role. And if they've got an issue or concern, it's going to be heard."
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