How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
The economy's impact on higher education is unavoidable. Like many universities, NYU has had to make cuts across the board. Such cuts are unavoidable.
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However, the WSN Editorial Board, while recognizing that the university must make these changes to account for budget cuts, believes NYU should more actively seek student opinion and feedback when making such decisions. But just as much, if not more, responsibility lies with students, who should take initiative to create positive change.
For example: NYU's recent major overhaul of campus transportation, which upset many who depend on it, was implemented without any student input — not even the student government was contacted. But a stop at 14th Street was recently reinstated as a result of "careful ridership monitoring." We think that, had the university asked for student opinion and riding habits, it wouldn't have had to backpedal on the cut. (Still, we do acknowledge that the university reacted positively to what it saw a problem for students.)
Regarding printing, many students think the new 500-page limit is simply too few pages. We wrote in a previous editorial that in the long run, the cutback will be beneficial. But we realize that not all students feel this way; these students should voice their concerns and disagreements. If enough speak up, perhaps changes will be made. NYU has also said it may be willing to negotiate, especially during peak times like exam periods.
However, it would be unreasonable for us to expect the university to ask for student opinion on every decision. No one would benefit from this. But NYU is a "tuition-driven university," as Executive Vice President Michael Alfano has said. Students should at least feel as though their opinions and views are being heard.
There are a number of avenues for that to happen, such as student government and other types of student representation, but we think there is a lack of effort on both sides. In decisions directly affecting students, we don't think NYU makes enough of a visible effort to seek out student opinion. Conversely, student apathy allows NYU to get away with this.
As long as we're paying tuition, we should make every effort to influence the university in any way we can.
