SGA Working in Tandem with University Administration
Nicole Dales
Issue date: 3/3/10 Section: News
McWee explained that, with the incident of closing school, SGA President Cameron Patterson personally contacted him about the issue. "In Cameron's case he said this is what we are hearing. You need to be aware. I really did appreciate that. No problems at all," said McWee.
McWee explained that he thinks Longwood is very unique in the way students and staff work together. "You always have a vice president sitting in the room, Tim Pierson…you have a student, Keenan Crump who sits on the Faculty Senate. You have Cameron who actually sits on the Board of Visitors," said McWee.
"One of the things I would say is that Longwood…has a very long and special relationship with how we actually do involve students at all times and at all levels of those decision processes," said McWee. Cooke said he has heard from people at other schools in which their presidents could care less about their student body. Cooke stressed that this is something Longwood needs to avoid. Longwood need a president who wants the student bodies' opinion.
Crump said the students who get involved are put on the inside track and have the opportunity to work with administrators like Pierson. Crump said that Pierson is a liaison between the students and the administration. "There are students who don't get involved and they are the ones who go around and say the administration is not being transparent enough, whereas as its usually the students not being proactive enough, unfortunately," said Crump.
McWee said that when student government has wanted to hear from administrators, they ask, and he thinks the administration has always come to talk whenever they have been asked. "I think that's really great because I think it's also a matter of trying to create transparency," said McWee. He says it helps students understand why the administration makes the decisions they make.
Cooke said this premise of accessibility comes from President Dr. Patricia Cormier's long history of putting a lot of faith in the student government. Cooke said Cormier really valued the students' advice and there is a fear that the next president is going to completely change that.
McWee explained that he thinks Longwood is very unique in the way students and staff work together. "You always have a vice president sitting in the room, Tim Pierson…you have a student, Keenan Crump who sits on the Faculty Senate. You have Cameron who actually sits on the Board of Visitors," said McWee.
"One of the things I would say is that Longwood…has a very long and special relationship with how we actually do involve students at all times and at all levels of those decision processes," said McWee. Cooke said he has heard from people at other schools in which their presidents could care less about their student body. Cooke stressed that this is something Longwood needs to avoid. Longwood need a president who wants the student bodies' opinion.
Crump said the students who get involved are put on the inside track and have the opportunity to work with administrators like Pierson. Crump said that Pierson is a liaison between the students and the administration. "There are students who don't get involved and they are the ones who go around and say the administration is not being transparent enough, whereas as its usually the students not being proactive enough, unfortunately," said Crump.
McWee said that when student government has wanted to hear from administrators, they ask, and he thinks the administration has always come to talk whenever they have been asked. "I think that's really great because I think it's also a matter of trying to create transparency," said McWee. He says it helps students understand why the administration makes the decisions they make.
Cooke said this premise of accessibility comes from President Dr. Patricia Cormier's long history of putting a lot of faith in the student government. Cooke said Cormier really valued the students' advice and there is a fear that the next president is going to completely change that.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Blast from the Past!!
posted 3/03/10 @ 5:26 PM EST
Dr. McWee states in the article that the SGA should have input, but he would appreciate if it was polite or thoughtful input rather than emails that holler and scream. (Continued…)
Gerald Martin
posted 3/04/10 @ 12:43 PM EST
I am actually quite insulted by McWee's idea that the "adults" have to make the decisions at the University. I hate to say it lest it blow his mind but at the age of 18, which is the age 95% of college students have reached by the time they have hit Longwood, we are legally adults. (Continued…)
Peter
posted 3/21/10 @ 4:39 PM EST
I agree with Gerald Martin. The line about "adults" is almost laughable.
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