Students were given the chance to express concerns and ask questions about issues of interest at the “Student, Faculty, and Staff Back and Forth: Are You Doing Your Part?” forum last Thursday evening in the MSC auditorium. The forum, reportedly the first of its kind to be held on campus was hosted by the Black History Committee in conjunction with the Student Government Association.Pamela Owens, who was the facilitator/ narrator, said the event “was not designed to create a negative atmosphere, blame, or call people out. Nor was it created to cause an atmosphere of when you leave you wish you never came in the first place.”
Owens said that the forum was imperative for the student body along with faculty and staff because “it only takes one person to make a difference, and this is a beginning step in keeping the lines of communication open.”
With only about 50 people in the crowd, including students, faculty, and staff, many positive and negative topics were discussed. The forum was carried out in a question and answer format. Owens had attendees form groups of four to six people. Each group had 10 minutes to discuss what they considered the most negative and positive aspects of life at the university.
Problems that were presented included professional decorum of students and staff, meeting every student at his or her level, the inability to understand some foreign professors, accountability of students and staff, better system to voice concerns, disrespect, support, and publicizing events. There were many positive comments, such as a solid rich history on which PV was founded, continual growth, professors teaching about real life, scenery, the warmth of people, and the family-like atmosphere on campus.
Other topics such as tuition increase, athletic fees, an African American history major, short-term planning, cultivating leadership, counseling center, and transportation decals were addressed. Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs, answered many of the questions presented.
Thomas-Smith’s answers showed the university is moving in an upward direction. She stated that an honors dorm along with another cafeteria, are in the works to be built on the north side of campus.
A “Feedback Report” on the forum is expected soon, according to the organizers. The report will allow the campus community to read everything discussed at the forum, and to keep up with the changes that were promised.