As a recent addition to the Board of Trustees Governance Committee as a student representative, I find it important to clarify Student Government President Kyle Taylor's role in ensuring student interests are given priority by the board. In a recent editorial, columnist Jonathan D. McPike commented that an observer might ask Taylor just what he's done concerning the Ladner scandal and board response. I would like to answer that unasked, although maliciously provoked, question.
President Taylor has unrelentingly advocated for student, faculty and staff representation on the Board of Trustees and in judicial hearings, pushing for more transparency and better communication between the board and students. Taylor knows that student representation is the only effective mechanism to guarantee permanent student input, which is why he created a task force to research and develop a thoughtful plan on board governance. He then presented this 10-point plan for the reform process to the board, which is included at the end of this letter.
Aside from his immediate and extensive response to a scandal which he had to break through bureaucracy to even discover facts, Taylor has redesigned the academic calendar to guarantee study days while ensuring students can leave campus earlier, created the "Be" Campaign, secured a pilot program for weekend hours at the health center and extended hours at the Eagle's Nest, and instituted complaint hotlines for all food vendors and shuttle services on campus. When the hours of the Park Bethesda shuttle service were decreased, it was Taylor , with the help of his cabinet, that took up the issue and using SG resources supplemented the PB shuttle to full service.
Other ways Taylor has added interconnectivity to the campus include the top 25 most called list magnets, creation of the Outreach Committee which boasts of regular communication with all interested organizations on campus, bringing ibeatmybookstore.com to campus for the welfare of student?s wallets, increasing at a huge rate the number of open forums with the University President?s cabinet (acting President Kerwin and various administrators), hosting debt consolidation workshops to help students save money on loans, and creating the matching funds grants, which have provided smaller groups on campus in total more than $4,000.
American University's name and interests have also been well represented and defended by President Taylor, who rebuilt and currently chairs the District of Columbia United Student Associations, which advocates for students rights at the DC level. Taylor also helped KARE raise more than $10,000 for hurricane relief. In regards to campus sustainability, Kyle is advocating for renewable energy resources to be used on campus, which will save money and be more efficient for AU in the long-term.
It is always frustrating to see someone who takes no part in Student Government blast it for lack of success or trying. I, as the Director of Women's Initiative and therefore someone who serves in the SG, do not take offense to Jonathan D. McPike's editorial; I just find it misinformed and counterproductive. The SG Executives this year have worked tirelessly for successes such as Founder's Day Ball, better organization of AUTO and outreach to other groups on campus, not to mention the hundreds of events put on by SUB, KPU and Women's Initiative, which are under the direction of President Taylor. Before columnists attempt to find a scape goat to fill their lacking editorial submissions, perhaps they should do their homework on how much effort it takes to represent and champion student issues, and to have such success not only in advocacy of student's rights, but in regards to respect from the administration and a remarkable willingness from administrators to work cooperatively with our Student Government leaders. The reason for these successes and therefore our secured rights as students, is the ability of leaders like Taylor to maintain a level head and professionalism with both sides, the students and administrators, pulling his coattails.
Instead of ranting, columnist Jonathan D. McPike should join President Taylor in his so-far successful attempts to make Student Government better and American University an even better place to be a student.
Jen Smyers was appointed director of the Women's Initiative by President Taylor, and is a junior in the School of Public Affairs.
