Expressing his dissatisfaction for the “talk and rhetoric” regarding the big campus issues, Student Union President Zachary Coseglia revealed an 11-page proposal for his University Perspectives project at last night’s Senate meeting.
“We need to take serious action,” said Coseglia, a College of Communication senior. “I’m not just going to sit around and not do anything.”
The project focuses on the creation of two committees dealing with minority enrollment and the Guest Policy. The idea for the committees, presented by former Union President Michael Moffo several months ago, is to bring the student findings to the administration and hopefully work together in creating change, Coseglia said.
“[The findings will] stem heavily from interviews, conversations and informal meetings with Boston University students and alumni,” Coseglia said in the project’s introduction.
“We need to show them a mobilized student front,” Coseglia said.
The “student front” will consist of two five-member committees, gathering members from the Student Union as well as various student groups on campus, according to Coseglia.
“We hope to present them with evidence that there is a problem,” Coseglia said. “We need to show that there is mobilization and concern from students, professors and even parents.”
The first step for the administration is for them to admit that these issues are problems, Coseglia said.
“First and foremost, we were shocked to discover that this year’s freshman class was comprised of just 16 African American students,” Coseglia said. “These numbers are truly embarrassing.”
The minority enrollment committee has members from UMOJA and the NAACP and includes Onaje Crawford, VP of multicultural affairs.
“The only thing we’re missing is representation from Latinos Unidos,” Coseglia said. “We also need involvement from AHANA [African, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native American].”
The committee will take a look at recruiting tactics and the involvement of President’s Hosts.
Two of the guest policy committee members come from the student organization BU Free, an organization dedicated to changing the Guest Policy. This integration between the Student Union Executive Board and student groups is what will create a coalition among students and administrators, Coseglia said.
“The administration will argue the Guest Policy. They’re proud of their numbers,” he said. “The students are proud, too, but at the same time it’s a thorn in their side.”
Although Coseglia said he is not personally looking for any radical changes, he does hope to examine double standards within the policy, as well as the lack of 24-hour study spaces.
While the committees have not yet met, Coseglia said he hopes they will meet sometime in the next week and accomplish as much as possible before the committees are scheduled to meet with Provost Denis Berkey at the end of February.
Also at last night’s meeting, College of Communication sophomore Frances Cosico, VP of academic affairs, discussed her involvement as a student representative in the Undergraduate Academic Council ad hoc committee, which has been designed to discuss recommendations for students graduating with Latin honors. The recommendations will eventually be discussed with Berkey.
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