The Omnibus

Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: Forum

Media Credit: Zach Henderson Springfield citizens protestes earlier this year at a republican rally. Students can protest at SBU as well. Students need to work together to find new ways of getting their voices heard.

There has been much on this page recently concerning the apathy, concerns and modes of action of the Southwest Baptist student body. I wish to address each of these issues.
I would agree in saying there is an unusual amount of apathy coming from this student body. Do not confuse this with a lack of concern. The concerns are there, the motivation to do something about these concerns is not.
There are many reasons I can see for this behavior. The first is the general type of student SBU receives. Mostly, our students are individuals who have grown up in churches of the Baptist persuasion. I consider Baptist churches especially concerned with legalities. Therefore, we have grown up hearing about the way things are, usually not being given a reason, and are told not to question these things. We are a group of people who very much respect authority.
Now, to an extent, this is not a bad thing. Respecting authority is a very good quality. It is definitely better than the alternative. However, just accepting everything you are told and going with it is not good, to a certain extent. Students aren't challenging things because we are trained not to.
Another thing I feel is holding students back from trying to speak out is history. Students have been told if we have concerns to talk to someone involved with Student Government Association. Then, members of SGA talk it over amongst themselves, bring it up in a meeting and perhaps bring it to the administration. Then, the administration says, "Oh how nice; what a novel thought." Game over.
I am not saying in any way that SGA is not doing their job. I am saying that many times I feel as if the administration has put SGA in place as a façade.
They want us to think we have an appropriate channel to make change, when really they are trying to placate us. Let's face it, this is a private university, the people in charge of this whole operation have far more freedom to do as they wish than those in public universities.
What do I propose we do? Take action in our own hands. Do something the administration cannot ignore. Petitions and letters are made of paper, they can be glanced at and tossed. I say you use the strongest tool at your disposal to get noticed: yourself.
I suggest actual protesting. Make some signs. Or, even better, organize a sit-in. Can you imagine 50 or even 100 students with signs and chants covering the floors of the Sells Administration Center to get a point across? You would be impossible to ignore. Your message would surely get heard. Clearly, we have to do something different; none of the current methods are working.
If changes start getting made due to students taking action, we could turn this place around. Our spirits would be revived, and students would feel fulfilled and purposeful. It would be a shame to leave this place without seeing a single person get really passionate and stand up for what he / she believes in.

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