Neil Mathews recently relinquished his post as vice chancellor, and the University will embark upon another employment search. And this time, the University needs to pick a person who will better serve the students Mathews was in charge of Student Life and Academic Services, which some have criticized for failing to acknowledge the needs of the students. SLAS oversees many important University branches, such as the Student Union, Student Health Center, University Recreation and Residential Life. All of these branches affect students’ daily lives. Many of these units within SLAS have started plans for large changes on campus, and many of these important decisions were enacted with little to no regard for students’ viewpoints. Fee increases for the Union, Health Center and UREC came to fruition during Mathews’ tenure as vice chancellor, and SLAS also lobbied for the first-year residency requirement, which the LSU Board of Supervisors approved in October 2007. The University will implement the program fall 2009. Although many important changes occurred during Mathews’ tenure, decisions made by SLAS and the University often did not take into account the University’s main constituents – the students. Students voted against an additional fee to fund renovations of the Union and Union Theater. Students also voted against the approval of the first-year residency requirement. Both were approved regardless. SLAS refused to take into account the opinions of the students. Mathews and his tenure over SLAS have started a trend for administrators doing whatever they want with little regard for student input. And the little input they seek from students comes from students that would rather please the administrators than actually stand for the students. The University needs a candidate who will reverse this trend and respect the students. The Editorial Board recommends the University put in a dedicated effort in filling the SLAS vice chancellor position with a candidate respective and aware of the needs of the student body.
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