Having attended the Presidential Town Meeting on Monday, I left with some serious thoughts about our campus. As students, we have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming years. For the underclassmen, there are myriad physical renovations to our campus which will improve the overall experience. For the upperclassmen, and those graduating such as myself, we can look forward to strengthening our degree as our school rises in the ranks. However, when the time for questions arose, it was almost fully consumed by a recent art exhibition by Wafaa Bilal. If you are unaware of the exhibition, the opinions, or the fallout, it would be wise to do some research on the issue. I do not want to speak about the art exhibit, but rather speak about the disappointment I had in the way a number of students, our peers, expressed their opinions.
I fully understand that emotions can run high in chaotic times. I have personally been attacked on ideas, thoughts, or decisions by those not in agreement with them. I have also expressed my feelings towards certain decisions and ideas that I was in disagreement with. What I experienced at the town meeting was several peers who expressed themselves very emphatically, with little or no tact or respect. It is important to voice your opinions on certain matters, but it is also crucially important how you express your thoughts. Throughout our time during college, we will constantly be immersed in opinions and decisions differing from our own. It is important to remember a couple things when voicing our opinions—first, we must be well versed in the situation, from beginning to end, and second, we must present our opinions tactfully and respectfully.
Because we only spend four or five years at Rensselaer, there is a constant turnover in thoughts, ideas, and opinions. It is important to recognize that the administration, faculty, and staff do not have this turnover as often as students. With that said, we really are in act 10 of a 20 act play. We have not been around as long as many leaders, and will not stay as long as them either. As is true in any situation, our opinions may not based in truth or history, causing us to form untrue assertions. It is important then, to make sure that we have studied the situation and understand thoroughly the conditions surrounding it. With public decisions, it is often more important to understand the how and why, rather than the what.
Not only must we be well equipped with knowledge, but we must present our ideas in a professional, respectful manner. It is important to make sure we look at our opinions in an objective light, and present them in a similar fashion. One student shouted out his opinions from his seat although it wasn’t his turn to speak. We need to make sure to contain ourselves and act responsibly. While it may be easier to vent our opinions, it is much more difficult, but effective, to express ourselves tactfully. It is also important to respect all parties involved. Respect should transcend beyond titles, and as such, should be practiced all the time. We are in the perfect environment to practice such techniques, and there is no better time than now to start. I encourage media organizations and individuals to express their thoughts, but we all must do so respectfully. There were several articles written in some publications recently, which obviously did not portray any opinions with the needed amount of respect. We must constantly review our opinions and formulate them as to not offend or disrespect anyone. From this point forward, please take my suggestions and apply them to all arenas of life, and as I have found out myself, they will make your opinions and ideas much more effective.
