Leadership – what is it and where does it reside on campus?
The Reveille staff sent groups of random students and obvious campus leaders fumbling for answers to this question this past week. Yes, each person holding a figurehead position on campus claims to provide great leadership. Yes, each student we asked thinks leadership on campus is important. But we think it is our responsibility to hold University leaders accountable for the promises they make and for the expectations students hold.
Each day our reporters walk through the Quad, the Union, classrooms and residential halls to gather opinions and input about campus issues. Reporters’ questions are met with a deafening thud as they encounter a major problem on campus — student ignorance and apathy. Students don’t know what leaders are doing, or they just don’t care.
Students say the reason for this is they do not see leaders working for them; their leaders are not visible.
As the primary source of news for many students, we see it as our job to inform students about what their leaders are doing. This is important because campus leaders have tremendous influence.
Student Government controls a large amount of student fees — your money, and ours too. The Greek community makes up more than 10 percent of the student population, and its reputation precedes not only the Greek community, but the campus. Student athletes are perhaps the most nationally recognized group on campus, with the opportunity to influence through the media. The minority community aims to increase campus diversity, but it needs strong leaders to do so. And there are more than 300 registered student organizations, all with the potential to lead and affect campus.
Student Media, including The Reveille, disseminates campus news to students, and we think it only fair to examine our strengths and weaknesses as well.
All these facets of campus are leaders in their own right. After talking to students across campus, we’ve found that leaders are those who have the power, potential or influence to affect change.