GSC is changing in many ways
Emily Hogan
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Opinion
By Emily Hogan
Clubs Editor
924154922@gsc.edu
It isn't hard to tell that GSC is growing. Anyone getting here at 9 a.m. on a Monday can tell by the lack of parking and the mass exodus to the various buildings.
In fact, just a couple of years ago GSC went from Gainesville College to adding a State in between those two words and offering four-year degrees. We also got a fancy new website.
With the above examples, it isn't hard to see that change is everywhere. And the degree of change ranges from simple to complex, but does GSC need more?
Amon Kirk, GSC student, believes we do.
He began the all-student organization 1001 for Change, which came about after various instances seen and heard on campus such as racial slurs towards President Obama.
"We need to do something," said Kirk.
1001 isn't a club, but an organization founded by students for students. It is not a rebellious group, but a place where students can have a voice.
"This is our battle. Students need to fight it," said Kirk. "Students should care about their neighbor."
I believe the efforts being made to make students aware of various things happening on campus are a step in the right direction.
What about the faculty?
They work here, mold minds. I think that in some instances they are students' biggest ally.
The faculty senate subcommittee proposed a slight change to GSC's Academic Exchange statement. They also recognized the need to bring back the Disruptive Behavior Policy, posting it immediately after the Academic Exchange Statement.
"The committee sees the Academic Exchange Statement and the Disruptive Behavior Policy as things that work in tandem. The former item is educational and tone setting; the latter item is a set discipline policy and tool for faculty to use," said the committee in an email.
They go on to say that "all faculty should feel responsibility and have some capacity for maintaining civility in our classroom environments."
The committee hopes that both the "Academic Exchange Statement and Disruptive Behavior Policy will help faculty communicate expectations to students."
There needs to be an understanding among students and faculty that differences occur. That is the joy of being at a school full of so many different people. Without those differences, it would be a boring place to go to every day; it almost wouldn't be worth it.
Everyone always says change is inevitable. It is going to happen; there is no stopping it. And in the case of social awareness on GSC's campus, the steps that are being made are in the right direction.
However, it is important to remember that in order to move forward GSC faculty, staff and students need to work together. It is necessary that everyone on campus feels empowered to speak up when something isn't right. Listen to each other and respond in a manner that isn't offensive or hurtful.
The stepping stones have been placed and now it is up to everyone to continue to act on these efforts to make GSC an even better place.
Clubs Editor
924154922@gsc.edu
It isn't hard to tell that GSC is growing. Anyone getting here at 9 a.m. on a Monday can tell by the lack of parking and the mass exodus to the various buildings.
In fact, just a couple of years ago GSC went from Gainesville College to adding a State in between those two words and offering four-year degrees. We also got a fancy new website.
With the above examples, it isn't hard to see that change is everywhere. And the degree of change ranges from simple to complex, but does GSC need more?
Amon Kirk, GSC student, believes we do.
He began the all-student organization 1001 for Change, which came about after various instances seen and heard on campus such as racial slurs towards President Obama.
"We need to do something," said Kirk.
1001 isn't a club, but an organization founded by students for students. It is not a rebellious group, but a place where students can have a voice.
"This is our battle. Students need to fight it," said Kirk. "Students should care about their neighbor."
I believe the efforts being made to make students aware of various things happening on campus are a step in the right direction.
What about the faculty?
They work here, mold minds. I think that in some instances they are students' biggest ally.
The faculty senate subcommittee proposed a slight change to GSC's Academic Exchange statement. They also recognized the need to bring back the Disruptive Behavior Policy, posting it immediately after the Academic Exchange Statement.
"The committee sees the Academic Exchange Statement and the Disruptive Behavior Policy as things that work in tandem. The former item is educational and tone setting; the latter item is a set discipline policy and tool for faculty to use," said the committee in an email.
They go on to say that "all faculty should feel responsibility and have some capacity for maintaining civility in our classroom environments."
The committee hopes that both the "Academic Exchange Statement and Disruptive Behavior Policy will help faculty communicate expectations to students."
There needs to be an understanding among students and faculty that differences occur. That is the joy of being at a school full of so many different people. Without those differences, it would be a boring place to go to every day; it almost wouldn't be worth it.
Everyone always says change is inevitable. It is going to happen; there is no stopping it. And in the case of social awareness on GSC's campus, the steps that are being made are in the right direction.
However, it is important to remember that in order to move forward GSC faculty, staff and students need to work together. It is necessary that everyone on campus feels empowered to speak up when something isn't right. Listen to each other and respond in a manner that isn't offensive or hurtful.
The stepping stones have been placed and now it is up to everyone to continue to act on these efforts to make GSC an even better place.
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