Students should initiate independent expression

Editorial

Where have all the students gone? Their voices are faint and few reach Elon student media and government – organizations that should amplify student voices and answer to the student body. Last week, The Pendulum urged students to get involved with SGA. However, many candidates will remain uncontested in next week’s SGA elections. The Pendulum asks for letters to the editor in response to campus events and stories published in the paper – this week The Pendulum received one letter – it is from the SGA president. Where is the student voice?

Many students raise concerns that governmental leaders, reporters and other civil service members are “out of touch” with the people they serve. The community often says presidents don’t interact with their constituents enough to know what the people’s real needs are and editors aren’t involved enough in the community to report what people really want to express or understand.

These are valid concerns and traditional student organizations currently may not provide the outlets students need to voice their opinions, express their humor or spark a movement for change. Bubble Bitching provided an outstanding outlet for student opinion, satire and humor – despite or perhaps due in part to its print job on a 8 and 1/2 - by - 11 sheet of white paper. The “You know you go to Elon if…” Web site raises truths about students’ perceptions of community landmarks, institutions and characteristics in direct, honest ways. Black Underground, distributed for the first time last week, represents a minority view important to the community, regardless of the newsletter’s anonymity or small representation in the student body.

The Elon community needs more of these voices, both in traditional student organizations and in less formal outlets, to balance opinions represented in the student community and to provoke discussion and change. Actions speak louder than words, but without thought and dialogue to precede and provoke movement and change, the Elon community risks remaining stagnant or following leaders with unjustified opinions and unbalanced visions for the community.

Elon is growing quickly, and many administrative voices reach the community to calm students and promote a vision for excellence. Students may share this vision – and a majority of students may have come to that conclusion by exploring possibilities and listening to opinions on both sides of the issue. But what if students agree or passively accept that growth is good for Elon merely because they haven’t heard anyone voice a contrary opinion? Students going home and griping to each other about the possible loss of a tight-knit Elon community doesn’t impact the greater community unless the people from each home are talking with each other about their neighborhood.

Many of the issues students discuss over dinner are central to their experiences throughout college, but seem to be isolated problems only to be accepted and complained about. Generally, problems aren’t isolated and there are alternatives to current methods and policies. The Elon bubble is bitching, but we can’t hear it. And we can’t stop it until we offer solutions. Where have all the students gone? This is a time to bring on the bubble bitching. There is power in the mass media and student government that can be used if organization leaders know the needs and concerns of the community.