The News-Letter has a longstanding tradition of offering constructive criticism to the administration and other student groups alike in the spirit of making the school a better place. In light of that, it has also become a tradition to wrap up the semester with a selection of picks and pans, the best and the worst JHU had to offer over the past semester. So without further ado.
PICKS:
1) MSE Symposium
Wow. Seldom, if ever, can we recall such a turnaround in an organization in the course of one year. Even when counted as one of the many proud Symposia that have graced the JHU campus since its creation, this year's would have easily held its own, but when compared to two years of severely lackluster offerings, it is downright extraordinary. The opportunity to hear a journalist like Bob Woodward comment on President Bush's post-Sept. 11 address to Congress was a great beginning, and the rest of the speakers completed the package. Kudos to all involved, and next year's chairs take heed: A lot will be expected.
2) The Levering Student Union Committee
Sure, sure, it sounds like just another meaningless StuCo resolution, but it's great to see that our representatives have finally managed to articulate what we've all been saying for years: That the University's "student union" functions are far too dispersed to be effective or attractive to students. If bringing back E-Level is not an option, then maybe the Committee's suggestions can finally put the building's largely empty spaces to a productive (i.e. student-oriented) use, and maybe the hard numbers in the survey can finally convince the administration that student opinion is unified behind the idea.
3) Rec Center
A facility designed for the use of the general student body? Is this a dream? In any case, it's a step in the right direction. Too bad it took so long to build that the thrill of anticipation has gone the way of Commencement on the quad.
4) Soaping up the Mattin Center Fountain.
A prank that's inexpensive, widely visible, causes no permanent harm and was actually kind of funny. Kudos to whatever Merry Pranksters thought this one up, although it would be nice if you'd clean up after yourselves, since by now we are getting a little sick of looking at the residue.
PANS
1) The Green Form
A form which contains no actual information, but just has two signatures on it. Signatures that we all already got on another piece of paper, the infamous checklist. And yet they're not interchangeable, despite the fact that they say the same thing. Is this Hopkins or The Castle? What on earth is going on? Is carbon paper the only form in which JHU can receive any information about students? Wasn't online registration supposed to abolish these sorts of things? When will the pain end?
2) Phone Service changes
The administration finally woke up to the fact that students were avoiding their usurious phone charges by getting cell phones and using them as their primary phones for outgoing and long-distance calls, while still being able to receive calls in their dorm rooms. So they reacted in a creative manner which benefited all involved, especially the students. Oh, wait. that must have been somewhere else. Instead, they imposed a new policy to try to squeeze some more money out of the captive dorm residents, effectively making the dorm phones either expensive paperweights or vestigial appendages. Way to go.
3) StuCo Reorganization schemes
Color us confused. While we agree that changing the way the Student Council is run is a good idea (especially if it makes for better social programming), we don't know if splitting up responsibility three ways is the best way to go about it, especially if the HOP is still going to be in charge of dispensing social funds. Let's face it: They don't exactly have a stellar record. Maybe it's finally time to get rid of it and hire some sort of a full-time, professional coordinator, pledged to work with a student input and providing continuity and long-term experience to the position. Or maybe any kind of change is good.
4) Sodexho greed/No more Levering meal equiv.
What a way to make students feel included: Appoint a committee to examine student attitudes on the meal plan, then give it no say in the final decision and ignore its findings.
