Letter to the editor
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to last week’s letter to the editor, which referenced multiple concerns with the new system called Bobcat Vision. I would first like to say that I respect the concerns of Miss O’Toole, as well as all students around the GCSU campus on multiple issues. However, I would like to make a few facts known about the system, as to give a better view on the vision, purpose and usage of Bobcat Vision, as well as how student activity dollars can be allocated around the university for the benefit of the students.
Bobcat Vision is a project that has been a work in progress for the last year. Even today, we do not have the full system up and running. Even though the monitors are installed, we have key features of the system that have not yet been implemented in full. For example, we will soon be turning the monitors off in the evenings after the campus is no longer populated. This will save on energy, as Miss O’Toole referenced. The software for this system is highly advanced, and we feel positive that as Campus Life learns the ins and outs of the software, the effect towards student interaction and knowledge of the system will dramatically increase.
Student activity dollars cannot be used for handicap entrances, fenced in parking lots, emergency stations or additional lighting around campus. They also cannot go towards directly expanding hours or staff anywhere on campus. Student activity dollars go towards student activities-RSOs, intramurals, events and activities around campus etc. The dollars that went towards Bobcat Vision came from the student activity account because its purpose is to increase knowledge of student events and messages around campus. Last year, SGA made multiple references to a lack of student communication and knowledge around campus on events and activities. In fact, faculty, staff and administration often have a hard time knowing what is going on around campus. There is nothing wrong with the students (or the users); instead, we just need to increase the media of communications to students, as Student_All rarely works, flyers are wasteful, messy and often a waste of time, and chalk on the sidewalks hurts the image of our university. Many campuses around the country have moved towards electronic messaging systems like Bobcat Vision, and we hope that it will prove a success on the GCSU campus as well.
Lastly, I would like to mention that if we have the attitude that students won’t look at the televisions, then they probably will not. If we incorporate Bobcat Vision into the every day communication media of students, then hopefully we can make it an integral part of the campus. It is the same thing as campus pride and ethos- we have never had it in the past, yet if we encourage students to make it a part of the campus, then it can become a reality. The same concept applies to Bobcat Vision. I am excited to see this system grow, and I truly think that students have noticed the monitors and will continue to do so as the system develops. If students are interested in looking for a quick way to figure out what is going around on campus, they will look to Bobcat Vision for the answer.
Sincerely,
Ryan Greene
SGA President
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 19 2008. Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinion.
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