Statement from EMU student government
Today marks an important day for the future of Eastern Michigan University. The EMU community is now at a crossroads. We have the option of continuing upon the path that we have followed in recent history, or we can choose to embark upon a new path that will lead us in a different direction. Today, we must choose a new direction.
Eastern Michigan now has the opportunity to move forward. No longer must we be the target of criticism. Now, we have the opportunity for our advancements to be praised. The benefit of the recent national exposition of EMU's shortcomings is that we can no longer hide from the issues that prevent us from excelling to our full potential. We, as a community, must now work diligently toward recognizing and resolving those issues.
No longer must we fail to communicate. Defective communication has been a plague on Eastern Michigan University for far too long. Now we have the opportunity to reexamine and rehabilitate this process. Effective communication between the faculty, administration, and student body must now begin to take place. We must actively pursue this goal, in the spirit of progress. To begin, there has been a deficiency of student representation at the University level that has interfered with effective communication. It is necessary to ensure that a student representative is designated for the University Budget Committee and the Strategic Operations Council. These groups make important decisions that affect the student body, and in the future the student voice must be incorporated into their decision making process. Furthermore, the EMU administration must make a concerted effort to communicate with students through a strong presence on campus. This can be achieved through town hall meetings and open forums, individual interaction, and simply attending events hosted by student organizations. I am optimistic that all members of the EMU community will work together to solve the problems surrounding communication at Eastern Michigan University.
In addition, no longer must the safety of our campus community be called into question. The Department of Education's report about Eastern Michigan University's failure to adhere to the Clery Act has highlighted several deficiencies within our Department of Public Safety and its relationship with the University. We now have the opportunity to repair those deficiencies and strengthen the university police force. We should not attempt to bury the past from ourselves or the outside community. We must learn from our mistakes, solve our problems, and highlight our progress publicly. We now have the opportunity to become one of the safest universities in the nation, and we must pursue that goal with passion and optimism. Though our leadership is changing, we must agree as a campus community to adhere to a plan to revise the safety of Eastern's campus. I have full confidence that Provost Loppnow will continue to pursue the sixteen safety revisions outlined by Dr. Fallon until an interim president is appointed. Furthermore, I encourage that he and other campus leadership look beyond that outline and pursue further safety enhancement measures. A stronger security presence, better lighting, and enhanced emergency action and communication plans will help make EMU the safest it has ever been.
Finally, no longer must we be divided into factions. Today, we have the opportunity to stop resenting the faults of the past, and begin looking toward a positive future together. We must bridge the gaps that have formed between the faculty, administration, and student body. For too long, EMU has been divided. Now we must all work together for the education, safety, and well-being of the student body of Eastern Michigan University. I look forward to the progress that must be made to restore our reputation with optimism. Let today set us upon a new path that will lead EMU in a positive direction.
Sincerely,
Greg Jones
Student Body President
EMU Student Government
I'm with ya Greg, especially on the faults of the past, I mean other than the mascot change n stuff ;)