On Thursday, an opportunity to connect the student body to safety and law enforcement on campus will be born. In short, let's make the most of it.
A model modified from an increasingly-popular concept in towns and cities across the country, UB Chief of Police Gerald Schoenle is laying out a plan for an advisory board - students from all walks of life at UB are encouraged to take part. But herein lays the hard part: making it work.
Finding motivated participants - even at a school as politically charged and socially diverse as UB - is no easy task. The Student Association and Residential Life have been recruited to help fill out the panel, but wouldn't the best candidates be the ones who are proactive enough to sign themselves up?
In Monday's paper, Schoenle said that "this is something the students have to want. If no one shows up then it won't work." Everyone and anyone is welcome and encouraged to take part, but that said, here's a laundry list of possible on-campus candidates with a track record for leadership. If all of them take part, consider it an advisory dream team.
SA Vice President Leslie Meister. As an elected member of the largest government on campus, Meister is a perfect mouthpiece for the concerns of her constituents. Why not President Viqar Hussain? His job is primarily to oversee SA as a whole. Meister, on the other hand, directly oversees campus clubs, giving her the most direct interaction with the masses.
Graduate SA President Catalina Crespo. Recently elected after the removal of the previous GSA e-board due to a misappropriation scandal, Crespo is currently the only permanent executive member of GSA. Although exceptionally outnumbered by undergrads, graduate students should also have an independent voice on the board.
Jenna Chrisphonte, student representative to the UB Council. Elected last year in a landslide to represent the entire student body on the board of community leaders and school officials that officially oversee the university, not only would Chrisphonte's presence be great for an image of solidarity (students being represented in every way possible, whenever possible), being able to share her experiences with the UB Council would also keep her appointed colleagues in touch with campus life.
Resident Advisers (eight). Four from Ellicott (two each from East and South sections), two from Governors and two from South Campus. RAs are the first line of safety and security enforcement in the dorms, making them the perfect candidates for both giving and receiving advice from the board.
Inter Greek Council liaisons (two). Basically, one sorority member and one fraternity member, each representing their specific councils and the IGC as a whole. Odds are, these members could offer input both on Greek affairs and general life in University Heights.
One of the Student Union managers. Just like the RAs in the dorms, the SU managers are the first responders to crisis situations in the largest student hub at UB - it's another position where advice would work both ways.
Campus activists. Whether you're an active Democrat or Republican, for or against the war in Iraq, or abortion, or you lobby the university or even The Spectrum on a regular basis, you've already proven that you care so much about student life at UB that you'd go out of your way to improve it. Here's a perfect forum to be heard by people who can promote direct change.
You. That's right - even if you don't fall into any of the above categories (and most people don't), you can take part. You live here, work here, eat here, play here, pay to be here... you're just as entitled as anyone else to speak up about policing at your school.
Of course it's unrealistic to think that everyone is going to take part in this, but if just a few people come together to get it off the ground, it's a start. For more information, to sign up, or just to offer your insight, e-mail Chief Schoenle at gws3@buffalo.edu. This is a rare chance to make increased student involvement and leadership work.
