Students can share CMU experience, concerns with university president Tuesday at SUSO

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University President George Ross will join a student panel on Tuesday to respond to questions about the college experience at Central Michigan University.

The Speak Up, Speak Out forum is titled “College Life: The Good, the Bad and the Solutions” and takes place at 7 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Auditorium.

Merlyn Mowrey, chairwoman of the SUSO organizing committee and facilitator of the forum, said the current events series focuses on one on-campus issue every year. She said the forum will feature research about students’ perceptions of their experiences at CMU.

“It’s almost like holding a mirror up to students,” she said.

Mowrey said Ross will bring insight to the panel. She said she hopes students will be “active rather than passive” and seize the opportunity to share their opinions about CMU with Ross.

“The president isn’t there to lecture, he is there to listen and respond,” she said. “The things we say can help shape his perception.”

Mowrey, an associate professor of philosophy and religion, said her goals for the forum are to think more about how to be successful in the classroom.

“We really do get a broader and more varied feedback,” she said. “We never finish learning about how to be good teachers.”

Grand Blanc senior and panelist Brooke Adams said many students are often uninvolved or overinvolved in extracurricular activities, and students should not lose focus on their education.

“The most important thing you are here for is academics,” she said.

Adams said it is great that Ross will be on the panel because it demonstrates that he is serious about listening to students.

“I think he’s showing initiative and he wants to be involved,” she said.

Newaygo senior and panelist Kasey Stevens said it is important for students to find a balance between academics and other activities at college. He said students should “develop as an individual outside of class.”

Stevens said he is passionate about the issue of retention and hopes the forum addresses different ways to make students knowledgeable about student services.

“Sometimes we fail to make resources known to help students succeed,” he said.

Stevens said students should attend because they deserve a chance to speak up about what they want from their college experience.

“It’s up to us to make our voices heard,” he said. “We just have to hope someone listens.”

Milford graduate student Samantha Thorpe also will be a panelist.

SUSO Writing Prize Winners will be announced at the forum. Central Michigan Life will feature a winning essay each Friday in April as a guest column.