EDITORIAL: If you want the campus community to help CMU, start listening to us
Throughout the past two years, Central Michigan University administrators have reminded the campus community that eliminating COVID-19 is a matter of everyone’s commitment.
The creation of the “We Do” campaign and subsequent videos has emphasized the “hands-on, real-world experience students gain” on campus.
The same language was echoed recently in an email to faculty as part of a series from the Office of the President.
“It will take all of us to turn the enrollment around,” said Jennifer Dehaemers, vice president of student recruitment and retention, in the email.
We, as students, would be more than happy to oblige by partaking in maroon and gold events, making calls to prospective students or mentoring freshmen— if the respect was reciprocated.
While the pandemic, of course, caused a decline in enrollment, it’s not the reason that CMU has the fastest declining enrollment in Michigan.
Yes, COVID-19 contributed. But dining halls closed and faculty members were fired as the university hired countless administrators and students watched their CMU experience deteriorate.
This week CMU is holding three open forums to welcome three finalists to campus for the newest administrator position: Vice President of Student Affairs.
How many more administrators will replace faculty positions before you realize students are not being listened to?
When the campus community got wind of the Washington Commons, town hall meetings were held for administration to hear opinions from the public.
Countless criticisms were voiced at two town hall meetings, but little has since been done to humor audience members.
If you are only going to pretend to listen, do not expect us to spend time helping you.
The public forums only led students to the conclusion that all the university has done is find solutions for future students. CMU is promising students that don’t exist, housing that doesn’t exist.
Meanwhile, students paying to attend CMU remain ignored.
We’re doing our job. We go to class, attend events and get involved with clubs. Faculty are doing their jobs. They teach classes, develop departments and mentor students.
But CMU – we cannot say the same for. Administration, when are you going to start doing your job by caring about the students that are here now, instead of the ones that could be in the future?
You flaunt the words “We Do” – on campus and on television – but when are you actually going to do your job?
