The Voice

Those of you who were worried, breathe easy. Your diploma will say Georgia College & State University.

The name issue, no matter how sensational it became, is over for now. Our name is safe and the school we registered for will remain our school and the money we’ve paid will go to things we need–regardless of where it comes from.

More importantly than any “victory,” as some have called it, is the true showing of the democratic process and first test of a new president against an anxious student body.

Students aren’t always right, but they should always be heard. This issue was always open for debate and students proved their voice could be strong. Through forums and votes, students (a full fourth of them) spoke out for what they believed: ten percent for the change, 90 percent against.

Let’s get this straight: if you combine all votes from every constituency, (students, faculty, staff and alumni) those in FAVOR of the name change were in the MAJORITY.

Though 90 percent of students voted against the name change, there were more votes from other sections of the GC&SU community who wanted the name changed.

Dr. Leland, for going against the majority and siding with the prominent voice of potential and current students, we commend you. At the risk of frustrating your publics, you have appeased the student voice with logic that cannot be denied: changing the name of the school, however incorrect the assumption may be, could give the impression that GC&SU is a two -year school.

While there are plenty of reputable universities that have retained the title of “college,” it’s not in the cards for us–not now anyway.

In the coming months, things could change. The advisory committee selected to evaluate the need for a name change could turn the tables and change everything, but we can only hope the process will remain as democratic the second time around as it has the first.

Trust is a stakeholder in democracy. Once trust is broken, it cannot be restored. Admittedly, students weren’t sure what was going to happen–there were no promises or guarantees. We knew only that your word, Dr. Leland, would be final.

Even if it meant going against the grain and taking on a majority of faculty whose interest in GC&SU will remain long after we are gone, you made your decision in the best interest of the university.

Thank you for listening to and believing in our opinion. You’ve passed this test with flying colors.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Mar 25 2005. Filed under Our Voice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry