Council issues stinging rebuke of University administration
Boswell and Burger both denied a number of the allegations against the administration. The resolution alleged that administrative officers had failed "to make themselves available in a timely manner to the members of the representative organizations of the Student Body."
To this, Burger simply replied that she was "puzzled by why there would be a view that [they] do not." She cited several instances since last semester when she met with various members of The Council.
Bierbryer was adamant that the level of availability Burger and Boswell boast was exaggerated.
"We have trouble scheduling meetings with them," he said. "It is difficult for us to keep the administrative decisions in check."
Burger said that early last fall, she met with the executive board of the Council "and volunteered to come to any student council meeting at any time." She said that she is disappointed not to have been invited to them.
While he denies that Burger has never been invited, Bierbryer echoed this sentiment and believes that the idea needs to be taken further.
"I should also have an opportunity to meet with the trustees and voice student concerns," he said.
As a general rule, Bierbryer believes that administrators make decisions of their own volition with minimal input from undergraduates. Only after they have implemented these decisions, he contends, do they inform the affected parties. Within this format, he noted, students are forced to act retroactively if they want to have any effect on the decisions.
He feels that it is the Council's responsibility to represent the interests of the undergraduates and believes the administration has been a hindrance in their attempts to do their elected duty.
"If the administration is not concerned with the concerns that the undergrads have, we'll inform the people that they do care about," said senior Andrew Gerba, vice president for activities, who has been passionately involved with this process. He went on to cite a number of alumni and donors who, he believes, will support Student Council's resolution if they do not receive the administration's support.
To this, Burger simply replied that she was "puzzled by why there would be a view that [they] do not." She cited several instances since last semester when she met with various members of The Council.
Bierbryer was adamant that the level of availability Burger and Boswell boast was exaggerated.
"We have trouble scheduling meetings with them," he said. "It is difficult for us to keep the administrative decisions in check."
Burger said that early last fall, she met with the executive board of the Council "and volunteered to come to any student council meeting at any time." She said that she is disappointed not to have been invited to them.
While he denies that Burger has never been invited, Bierbryer echoed this sentiment and believes that the idea needs to be taken further.
"I should also have an opportunity to meet with the trustees and voice student concerns," he said.
As a general rule, Bierbryer believes that administrators make decisions of their own volition with minimal input from undergraduates. Only after they have implemented these decisions, he contends, do they inform the affected parties. Within this format, he noted, students are forced to act retroactively if they want to have any effect on the decisions.
He feels that it is the Council's responsibility to represent the interests of the undergraduates and believes the administration has been a hindrance in their attempts to do their elected duty.
"If the administration is not concerned with the concerns that the undergrads have, we'll inform the people that they do care about," said senior Andrew Gerba, vice president for activities, who has been passionately involved with this process. He went on to cite a number of alumni and donors who, he believes, will support Student Council's resolution if they do not receive the administration's support.
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