Open Communication Is A Necessity

Something unusual has been happening at Trinity this semester. Tension has enveloped campus for the past three months. Changes are being made and the student body feels left out. Trinity students have exchanged their apathy for anger. We are angry because the administration is putting the "camp" back in Camp Trin Trin. Trinity resembles a summer camp, and we are the unwilling campers. We are told about changes instead of being made a part of them. Decisions that will affect our four years at this school are made, yet we don't find out about them until moments before they are instituted. For example, residents of Hansen Hall learned that the lawn adjacent to their dorm was to be turned into a parking lot only days before the paving commenced. They were unaware of this possibility at the time of the housing lottery. We are college students, and we want to be a part of our college. Changes are being made on campus which we will never see come to fruition during our tenure as students. We understand that this is for the good of the College, but we also understand that our Trinity experience takes place in the here and now, not in 2002. The whole student body must be informed of changes that will be occurring on campus in the future months. We need to know who our representatives are on various committees that deal with the College's planning, and we need to know that they have a vote that counts and a voice that is listened to. Students want to have input on the structural, academic, and ideological changes that are taking place. We need to know that Trinity is our school. As of now, we are living through the inconvenience of construction which we know little about and institutional changes that seem to be passed down from above. Complaints are voiced, but they are often either overlooked or not heard at all. This disconnect is dangerous to the well-being of the Trinity community and destructive to an atmosphere of learning. In addition, students need to take advantage of the channels of communication that are available at the moment. When we think that our comments are being ignored, we need to do everything within our power to stimulate the necessary change. We need to use action as well as words to show our frustration with the current state of things on campus. Complaining will only do so much‹we need to take action for student interests and prove that we are willing to work toward compromise and solution. We are at the doorstep of great change for Trinity; we need this change to transform the school in action as well as principle. For this goal to be achieved, the administration and the student body must work together in a relationship which promotes and encourages the open exchange of ideas.

Open Communication Is A Necessity

Something unusual has been happening at Trinity this semester. Tension has enveloped campus for the past three months. Changes are being made and the student body feels left out. Trinity students have exchanged their apathy for anger.

We are angry because the administration is putting the "camp" back in Camp Trin Trin. Trinity resembles a summer camp, and we are the unwilling campers. We are told about changes instead of being made a part of them. Decisions that will affect our four years at this school are made, yet we don't find out about them until moments before they are instituted. For example, residents of Hansen Hall learned that the lawn adjacent to their dorm was to be turned into a parking lot only days before the paving commenced. They were unaware of this possibility at the time of the housing lottery.

We are college students, and we want to be a part of our college. Changes are being made on campus which we will never see come to fruition during our tenure as students. We understand that this is for the good of the College, but we also understand that our Trinity experience takes place in the here and now, not in 2002.

The whole student body must be informed of changes that will be occurring on campus in the future months. We need to know who our representatives are on various committees that deal with the College's planning, and we need to know that they have a vote that counts and a voice that is listened to.

Students want to have input on the structural, academic, and ideological changes that are taking place. We need to know that Trinity is our school. As of now, we are living through the inconvenience of construction which we know little about and institutional changes that seem to be passed down from above. Complaints are voiced, but they are often either overlooked or not heard at all. This disconnect is dangerous to the well-being of the Trinity community and destructive to an atmosphere of learning.

In addition, students need to take advantage of the channels of communication that are available at the moment. When we think that our comments are being ignored, we need to do everything within our power to stimulate the necessary change. We need to use action as well as words to show our frustration with the current state of things on campus. Complaining will only do so much‹we need to take action for student interests and prove that we are willing to work toward compromise and solution.

We are at the doorstep of great change for Trinity; we need this change to transform the school in action as well as principle. For this goal to be achieved, the administration and the student body must work together in a relationship which promotes and encourages the open exchange of ideas.