Fireside Chat

STUDENT SENATE: an idea whose time has come (again)

"Why doesn't anyone listen to us?" "How come the faculty never use any of our ideas?" "Why does it seem like no one cares about what we have to say?"

These are the kinds of questions that I hear from time to time in my classroom. They usually arise from discussions which in some way touch on things like AUA school activities or rules in the AUA school bulletin. They always come from sincere, thoughtful students who feel a bit helpless, a little "out of the loop;" in a word, disenfranchised.

One way to react to such questions is the authoritarian way: "Hey, this isn't a democracy� we make the rules, and your job is to show good citizenship by following those rules. You are the learners; we are the educators." This reaction from teachers, administrators, and parents usually quiets down such questioning young minds. . . for a while. Eventually, if subjected to enough arbitrary and over- bearing attitudes from authority figures, students will learn how to rebel.

Another way to react is the permissive way (one not commonly found in school environments, so we'll only touch on it). Permissive authority is really irresponsible, neglectful authority. It means we give up our role as leaders, and let students take over and make all the rules and enforce them just as poorly as they want to.

A third way� the Better Way� is to accept those questions and empower the students who ask them, offering them ways to legitimately exercise their rights while cooperating with the authorities God placed over them. I'm glad AUA is a school where we can offer them such opportunities to participate in student self-government.

I challenge the current student body of AUA to put your questions and dreams and energies to work for AUA, through the activation and healthy operation of the AUA Student Senate. It will benefit everyone: administration (by giving them a more organized way of obtaining input on issues affecting students), teachers (by offering a channel to which energetic, questioning students can be directed), students (by giving them valuable experiences in government, politics, and group decision- making), and AUA as a whole (by providing just one more attraction to potential students).

So, students, it's up to you. Re-start the AUA Student Senate. It's an idea whose time has come.

Jim Miles

May 15, 1998