Chris Odinet, this past year’s Student Government president, wrote an article a month ago depicting his role as a student leader – a role in which student interests were sometimes forgotten.
Insidehighered.com, a Web site focusing on higher education issues, published Odinet’s article on Aug. 2.
In the article, Odinet described his evolution from being “the students’ voice” to becoming a “rubber stamp to the administration.”
Odinet wrote that administrators brought committee proposals, business plans and fee increases before him so they could secure “the much sought after administrative Holy Grail: student input.”
The law student told The Daily Reveille his article was not meant to target specific “I wasn’t necessarily trying to point to LSU or point to individuals so much as I was trying to talk about my experience,” he said.
Odinet said the article’s primary function was to serve as a reflection on the psychology behind serving as a student leader. He said there is a subtle transition from unconditionally representing students to considering things from an administrator’s point of view.
Odinet said this shift in thinking is related to the level of involvement with administrators. In the course of working with them, Odinet said he began to think like an administrator.
“Oh my God, they’ve turned me into one of them!” Odinet wrote, but later said this change was not entirely negative. “Sometimes it’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s a bad thing.”
Odinet said the support of administrators is necessary to accomplish “major things” as a student leader. He said more could be done for students by cooperating with administrators rather than categorically opposing them.
“Am I trying to be a figurehead, or am I trying to be part of the process and make a difference?” Odinet said.
Michael Ruffner, vice chancellor of communications and university relations, said Odinet was an excellent student body president who performed well in a tough position.
“I found Chris to be extremely diplomatic and somebody that navigated the waters between the administration and the students quite well,” Ruffner said.
Dean of Students K.C. White, previously an SG adviser, said Odinet represented the students’ voices well while helping to advance the University’s goals. She said the proper role of advisers and educators is to assist students and student leaders facing tough decisions, rather than to supervise or manipulate.
“I think it would be unfortunate if a student felt that they were being pressured by a University administrator,” White said regarding Odinet’s article. “Ultimately, it’s the student leader’s decision.”
The end of Odinet’s article expressed concern that future SG leaders “not be pulled into administrative orbit without a fight.”
Odinet refers to the “new student body president” inaugurated at the end of this past year as a “he,” though current SG President Cassie Alsfeld is female.
Odinet said this misidentification was intentional, to universalize the story and avoid pointing fingers at particular people.
Alsfeld said Odinet should not be blamed for writing the article. She said shewas not sure whether his position in the article was good or bad, but she was sympathetic to the problems Odinet faced.
“A lot of big issues did come up during his administration. He had a tough year,” she said.
Alsfeld said as SG president, she has also experienced a “mutual pressure” – the opposing interests of students and administrators. She also said she felt pressure to not let the students down.
“We do have to stand up for the students,” Alsfeld said.
Odinet received some criticism on the Web site for not taking a firmer stance against administrators.
“Before you can become a rubber stamp, you must already be made of rubber,” begins one comment, posted by a user named “College Professor.”
Another reader named “Jason” asserts Odinet is “still telling students exactly what the administration wants [him] to say.”
Odinet said he is aware not everyone agreed with the way he handled his presidency.
“I do not purport that my way was the best way,” Odinet said. “The best thing to do is have it be as advantageous to the students as you can.”
Some readers on Insidehighered.com commented that Odinet’s article was a useful warning for future student leaders.
“Keep your fingers crossed, and keep telling your cautionary tale, Chris,” wrote a reader named “Patrick.”
Odinet said his article was not intended to be such a warning, but it could be useful to future student leaders seeking to balance their unique but unwieldy combination of power and responsibility.
“It truly is a double-edged sword,” he said.
—Contact Daniel McBride at [email protected]