One of the most crucial parts of a higher education institution is the students. And Ithaca College is home to a robust student body that is thoroughly engaged in academics, extracurriculars and co-curriculars, and dedicated to the betterment of their institution. Whether it be academic advocacy or political activism, when students lead the charge for change, it will undoubtedly be the most effective.
While we may not be the administration or the IC Board of Trustees, one of the most vital aspects needed for a thriving campus are our student voices. But our voices only matter if we are willing to have them heard. Critique of the college can be viewed as only dislike of it or scorn toward it, but in many cases, student critique stems from love for our college and from the desire to see it improve.
On March 23, the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance announced via email that, depending on the music major, standard hour-long private lessons will be reduced to 30-minute or 45-minute sessions depending on the major. In response, students created a petition in opposition to this change, urging the importance of the hour-long lesson times for all music major students, and proposing a solution to “grandfather” the new initiative into effect. As of April 15, the petition has 142 signatures.
The petition also welcomes a meeting with the administration to discuss student-led solutions and highlights the motive of a shared commitment to preserve institutional standards.
No one knows what it is like to be a student at IC better than the students. Through student mobilization and forms of coalition building, meaningful and important dialogues will be able to take place, and those at the college with the authority to make decisions that directly impact us.
Administration, faculty, staff and students should work in conjunction to find solutions together. We all want what is best for the college. And if students disagree with the goings on at this institution, they should take action and work to change it for the better.
Another example of student action is the response from IC Students for Justice in Palestine to Sinclair Broadcast Group’s attendance at the Communications Career Fair held April 2. Sinclair Broadcast Group has been criticized for media consolidation and biased reporting in favor of the Republican Party. Leading up to the event, ICSJP created a petition against the presence of Sinclair recruiters on campus, posted flyers around various locations on campus with text reading “SINCLAIR OFF OUR CAMPUS” and campaigned on their Instagram for the same cause.
In the petition, ICSJP states “As an institution, we value ‘Academic Excellence, Respect and Accountability, Innovation, Sustainability, and Equity,’ none of which are displayed by Sinclair Broadcast Group.”
We enrolled at IC under certain pretenses and a belief in the commitments that the college made to us. If we want to change the institution for the better, we should take advantage of whatever leverage and power we have as students. Find like minded people, create coalitions and work to improve the college together.
