The Observer, August 29, 2008
Volume XLI, Issue 1
Students are voice of powerful change
Be great. Effect change. Be remembered. These are achievements that arise not from complaining and standing on the side but from engaging oneself in the process, here at Case Western Reserve University as well as in the rest of the world. Students are the heart of the university. Staff, faculty, and every administrator in Adelbert Hall realize that the student is the foundation of purpose for every facet at this institution. It's time that as students we recognize this important concept and utilize this unique period in our lives.
The student voice is an amazing thing. Unbound by budgets and bureaucratic hierarchies and comprised of a population that is in constant turnover, we are free to speak and act without fear of retribution. Although we may have no formal power, our influence is pervasive throughout each and every office, department, and classroom since every member of the campus community always has one question persisting in the back of their minds: "Is this what's best for the students?"
Our job is simple. Speak up and be heard. Question policy, seek answers, and fight for the change that is needed. We live here, eat here, work here, and so completely encompass this bubble of the university that we must not merely coexist but also invest ourselves to make it better than it was when we first arrived. Though we may not reap the benefits of our actions within our time here, let us not be discouraged but take comfort that our actions will ripple and affect the classes that will enter the university for years come.
Only we limit our opportunities. Apathy is our worst enemy. As our leadership turns over each year, we often forget where we come from, our successes, and the progress we've made, so that where we are and what we have goes unappreciated. We complain before we understand, and call for action before we question, and so often do we become jaded that we close our opportunities for success before we even walk through the door.
Care. Invest yourself in some aspect of this community, whether it is through student organizations, research, sports, or some other facet of the university. You will be happier, have a more fulfilling college experience, and be able to leave your own legacy and imprint in the nearly 200-year history of this institution. The student voice, our voice, does not fade and become hollow over time; it resonates as the fundamental conscience of the university. What will you say?
