The Flagship Agenda is something students, faculty and staff have heard about for the past year. Campus administrators and government officials have been talking about it constantly and The Reveille dedicated space in three issues to an in-depth look at different aspects of the agenda.
You may be wondering why this topic has garnered so much attention. The reason why is because the University is trying to change its image and give students in Louisiana the best education possible. In doing so, there are aspects of LSU life we have grown accustomed to that will be changing.
In The Reveille’s three part series we looked at the importance of having more tenured professors, increased admissions standards, increased out-of-state student enrollment and increased national prominence.
As the student newspaper, we felt you had not been given all the information you needed to voice your concerns and ask the right questions. We wanted to explain these topics in an effort to open a dialogue between campus and government officials and you, the students, who should be at the forefront of these decisions.
The Flagship Agenda affects every student, staff and faculty member on this campus. It will have an effect on the courses students will take, the environment they will learn in and the quality of their diploma. It also can have an impact on Louisiana’s economy.
This is so important to your future and the future of this campus that we urge you to get involved in the decisions being made.
If you haven’t read The Reveille’s coverage you should go online at lsureveille.com or come to B-16 Hodges Hall to pick up a copy. If you don’t have time to read, turn on campus channel 75 at 3 p.m. to watch Tiger TV’s expanded coverage on the Flagship Agenda. You also can tune in to KLSU’s public affairs show Full Frontal on 91.1 FM March 7 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. You will be able to talk to the reporters who covered the stories for The Reveille and hear firsthand what campus administrators told them.
These outlets are just a way for you to learn more about this topic. But, there are other ways to get involved and voice your opinions.
One way is to talk to a student senator. The LSU Student Senate is your voice on this campus. They are in charge of working with campus administrators to make campus life better for you. The Senate meets every Wednesday night and discusses, debates and votes on issues important to the student body. Every meeting provides an opportunity for students to voice any concerns or issues they have with the Senate. Students also can meet with the senator who writes legislation for their area of campus. To find out who your senator is visit lsu.edu/studentgovernment or call 578-8728.
Student Government also implemented a program called Chats with the Chancellor where students would be able to talk with the Chancellor on certain issues and get questions answered. In the past some of the topics discussed at Chats have been diversity, academics and fees. Now that students have more information about the Flagship Agenda it is time for students to discuss the Flagship Agenda in more detail and have the opportunity to meet with the Chancellor face to face.
You can contact Chancellor Mark Emmert at [email protected] and Provost Risa Palm at [email protected].
Most importantly, The Reveille is here to be your voice. If you would like for others to hear your opinion in an effort to spark debate, write a letter to the editor at [email protected]. You also can write a letter to other media outlets.