I am extremely interested in seeing the progress that CAMPUS Alliance produces this year.
While I have a lot of faith in the leadership ability of Frank Hood and the rest of his slate, I have not been convinced that their platform can be entirely successful. My concerns lie within what they proposed to complete this year, such as providing heat lamps at bus stops during winter months, a campus-wide philanthropy, and the entire Multiculturalism position.
Now, do not think that I am against any of these ideas. I just believe that they have not been completely thought through.
Let's start at an easy one. Providing heating lamps at bus stops during the winter months. I like this idea, I really do. I have sat at a bus stop waiting for a bus in the dead of winter wishing there was something warmer than my coat; however, there are more bus stops that are exposed to open air than there are enclosed bus stops.
Does CAMPUS Alliance propose to heat the open air at a great expense to the students and the university or just the bus stops with enclosed areas? The few bus stops with enclosures only see a fraction of students everyday while the open-air stops all along McKinley see a far higher percentage of students. Which do they propose?
Campus-wide Philanthropy?
While this is an interesting idea and one that I would be interested to hear more about, I have to point out that we already have one - it's called our Alumni Association. Our philanthropy has members such as Jim Davis, David Letterman, and John Schattner. The philanthropy is successful, well known and loyal. Why would we try to build one without trying to use the one we already have? I think that CAMPUS Alliance needs to find a way to bring the alumni back and become active in the campus as a whole and not just the Alumni Center.
As for the multiculturalism policy that CAMPUS Alliance slate has presented to the student body, I am still left asking a simple question, "Why?"
Why must we continue to pad the budget of this organization, this cause on campus? I do not believe that the voice of multiculturalism bandwagon has gone quiet. In fact, I believe it has gotten louder because our leadership has been afraid to say "enough is enough." Power and influence continue to go into this organization without equal power or influence flowing into other organizations. No, I am not saying I am against multiculturalism, I am saying that I am against the never-ending honeymoon this organization, this cause gets from our campus leadership. I think CAMPUS Alliance would do well to listen to these groups but not to set policy in stone by them.
Can CAMPUS Alliance be successful? Yes, I believe that they can and that they will continue to be motivated individuals; however, I believe its legacy will be set in stone by what they choose to do.
Robert Burgess is a sophomore political science major and writes 'The Right Word ' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Robert at rkburgess@bsu.edu
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