The first of four chancellor candidates was greeted by a virtually empty room Thursday when she prepared to speak with students on their concerns.

Student attendance for Jo Ann Argersinger Thursday was less than desirable it was awful. The forums were set up for students to meet and voice their concerns with the prospective candidate, one of whom will take over for Chancellor Beggs position July 1. The question that needs to be asked is what kind of chancellor do the students want?

As the final three candidates prepare to visit campus, students are quickly losing their chance to participate in the process of choosing a chancellor to lead SIUC into the new millennium.

Advertisement

The next opportunity for students to participate in the chancellor search will be 10:45 a.m. Thursday in the Museum Auditorium when Luis Proenza visits SIUC.

Time and again students voice their frustration or anger toward the administration, yet when the time comes for a chance, students can participate and change the University, their cries turn into sighs of laziness.

If students continue to be apathetic toward these forums, then no one has the right to complain if the new chancellor acts in a manner the student body feels is against their wishes. If the students do not care about the state of their University, then let administrators know that will make their job easier.

If it was not for the students of Brian Clardy’s Black American Studies classes, the student turnout to Argersinger’s student forum would have been virtually nonexistent. Clardy said it is students’ civic responsibility to become involved in the chancellor-selection process.

The chancellor chosen will be responsible for many aspects of student life, it is imperative that students do everything possible to select a candidate that is the best for them. We share his belief and urge all available students to attend future forums concerning not only the chancellor but any other issue as well.

It also was disappointing to see only representatives of Undergraduate Student Government attending these forums. USG is not the only organization with an interest in the selection of a chancellor. Every Registered Student Organization should have a representative there. The greek system, which continually has complained about a lack of a student voice, should be out in force, taking advantage of this opportunity to be heard.

We would like to thank Brian Clardy’s students for attending Argersinger’s forum. Others hopefully will take your lead and participate in their school’s future.

Advertisement*