Last week, Grand Marshal Gil Valadez spoke about initiatives aimed at increasing communication between the students and the administration of RPI. One of these included a potential amendment to the Union Constitution that would institute regular meetings of student leaders with President Jackson and members of her cabinet.
A central theme of many of The Poly’s editorials over the last several months has been the need for more communication between the administration and the community at large. We feel that Valadez’s ideas are a very concrete way to accomplish this goal, but care must be taken to avoid some of the same old pitfalls.
Student members of the panel must remember who they represent at all times and watch that they don’t get taken in by what they are being told by administrators. Cabinet members are certainly going to put the best spin on their projects—not out of malice, but simply because it is their job. The student leaders that make up the panel must examine what they hear with a critical ear in order to avoid becoming another mouthpiece for the administration.
We also feel that it is crucial for Dr. Jackson to attend these meetings without exception. The president is obviously a strong leader with a lot of influence over her cabinet. In order to have an impact, our views must be expressed to her directly, by the people who will champion them best: student representatives.
The editors of The Polytechnic strongly support Valadez in his effort and urge him to go forward with his amendment. We charge the Student Senate—though your terms are nearing their ends—to show your support as well; do what needs to be done to make this amendment work.
And finally, we call on Dr. Jackson and her cabinet to bear in mind the Grand Marshal’s continuing desire for cooperation and consider this a great opportunity to show the RPI community that we are not being ignored.
