Our Voice: Homecoming choices need voices
With all the hype that goes along with booking a Grammy nominated performer this year at Homecoming, one thing was lacking—the student opinion poll to vote on the Homecoming bands.
Unlike last year, there was no online survey conducted to see which artists students preferred.
The problem doesn’t lie with dissension over B.o.B., his nominations alone prove his popularity.
However, in this economic crisis, and taking into account the recent state budget cuts, we are in a position where students should have the opportunity to say how their money is being spent.
Students should be able to decide whether or not they think the Homecoming band is worth $45,000 and should not be the decision of the university or one committee.
Students should have more say in how their money is spent.
On the other hand, the problem with the polls is they take time, and contracts do too. This puts a strain on the Homecoming Committee to book a performer and get everything ready in time for the weekend. But if the school is going to be dropping large amounts of money funded out of student fees, it warrants some student opinion.
Perhaps a survey seeing which genres of music are popular would have sufficed. After all, not everyone enjoys hip-hop.
However, in order for this to work, students have to respond to the surveys provided by the university. Online student survey participation is waning.
The Student Opinion of Teaching surveys have had a 40 percent drop in participation since they were moved online in Spring 2009 (due to budget cuts.)
And, professors and students both benefit from the responses of those surveys. So why not help your peers, by letting that professor know that he needs to put those random assignments on his syllabus.
We’re proponents for giving your opinion on everything; it’s your first amendment right to freedom of speech. Whether it be commenting on food services, filling out professor evaluations or even voting for Mr. and Ms. Georgia College, you deserve to be heard. The Colonnade fully supports asking for and giving your opinion.
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