Wondering what factors distinguish the student experience of one college versus that of another? Many would guess that it is the administrators, acting on the founding principles of the University, who are responsible for shaping the atmosphere of the school. The student experience, however, is defined by the attitudes and values of the student body, not by the school itself. This relationship is clouded because of the many students whose views are perfectly aligned with the overall ideals of the school (one common example is volunteering).
Many of the students who experience a dissonance between their ideals and Boston College's mission, were attracted to this University for its sense of community and belonging. To form a community where everyone is valued, student leaders must take matters into their own hands to advocate for the changes that they would like the administration to acknowledge.
At the intersection of the students and administrators lies a compromise, which can increase the quality of the student experience. Understanding that the power to shape the college experience is in the hands of the student body should encourage more than 26 percent of the undergraduate population to log on to Agora and vote.
Last week's article "BC gets two thumbs up" sheds light on the survey reporting a little less than half of the student body having an excellent experience, and yet only 26 percent voted in 2006. The BC version of the Rock the Vote campaign, headed by Kyle Greenleaf, A&S '10, has taken a special interest in spelling out the past year's alarmingly low turnout, hoping to remind us of our duty as members of a community.
For those that are not having an "excellent" college experience, and happen to be in that 74 percent of non-voters, the world's smallest violin is playing for you. You are well aware that your representatives affect your way of life and yet you are still apathetic … why?
Many of us walk under that BC torch of glory. We understand that our student experience is better than that of many of our counterparts and take pride in that. Well, in its description profiles, the student body of BC did not strike me as one that was content with mediocrity. As I understand it, the student body is supposed to be one that strives to be the best.
There are still many changes to be made. Taking a moment to read the platforms of these candidates whose efforts deserve more than a 26 percent voter response, is the least anyone can do; it could only help you reap the benefits of an improved campus life. Only after the voting period can you sit back to watch the promises executed. Their proposed changes are ideas that many of us have thought about before but never took the same fervent initiative to act upon.
It is your responsibility to attain a holistic understanding of each of the candidates and make a decision on the grounds that your choice is the best representation of what you want out of your student experience. Consider this as practice for the presidential election when it is imperative to familiarize yourself with the candidates and their platforms in order to make an informed decision about the person that you entrust with your next four years.
The effort of these candidates should serve as enough of a reason for anyone to just read the flier that they put time into writing or to take time out of a quick Facebook fix to browse their Web sites. More importantly, the respect that they have shown to the student body in their ambitious undertaking of trying to improve the quality of life on campus should be reciprocated.
I am not asking you to stand among them in the cold while they are handing out their fliers or to even go door to door to help them; instead I urge you to take a step back, pay attention to what is going on around you, and take a more important kind of action: Vote Feb. 15 and 16.
Nidia Fevry is a Heights staff columnist. She welcomes comments at fevry@bcheights.com.
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