Supporting The Guest Policy

So here we are: The day after the proposal was submitted to President John Westling. And as students, faculty and staff open the pages of The Daily Free Press hopeful to see a change, or, for some, to see if they still have a job, it pains me to see the students of this university bickering over petty things. Last year, I was a member of the Student Union. I worked throughout the entire spring semester to get enhanced antenna to this campus. My friendships suffered as well as my grades. And a year later, what do I have to show for it but a letter from the president saying thanks for your efforts, nice try? And what did I do after I got that letter? I stopped. I realized cable or enhanced antenna is something this university is not ready for. I think every student on campus would like to be able to get CBS, ABC and NBC without covering their window in tin foil and hoping that the planets are in alignment.

But the Guest Policy is different. The Union boasted 1,192 surveys completed. With an undergraduate population of approximately 16,000, that is not even 25 percent of the undergrads. That is, in fact, 7.45 percent. There has been a lot of talk lately about the “silent” students who support the policy. I am one of them. I lived in Sleeper Hall for two years. Every time I walked into the building, I felt safe. I knew I could go into my room at 2 a.m. and not find my roommate shacking with some random girl. I knew if I wanted to study, I could without having every BU student in my dorm at 10 p.m. Granted, I’m sure every BU student wouldn’t be in Sleeper Hall at that time, but that is what the policy is allowing to happen. Academic semesters are very busy, and I think if there was the possibility of my roommate having 15 guests overnight for extended stays, then I would not be very happy. Our rooms are small enough that we don’t need a third body living off of BU guest passes. And I know they did not send a survey to my mother. I don’t know which 53 parents they chose out of thousands, but I know as a president’s host that parents want to see their children are safe in an urban campus. Pointing out the Blue Phones is not enough.

I think the current situation also allows for the “upperclassman privilege.” Once you get to be older, you can choose to move to a place like Bay State and South, where there are no guards. Most of these people are upperclassmen and have learned from their freshmen years. I know I have, and I learned to be more responsible because of it. People need to think before they speak. Follow this scenario for a minute: Students speak out and insult Chancellor Silber. Getting the administration mad will not allow for good terms of communication. The chancellor gets mad and makes a stricter policy. The Student Union has just effectively shot itself in the foot. Even the president of the Student Union has to settle for cheap blows at Westling by allowing The Daily Free Press to write, “The report does not include an introductory summary because Coseglia said he wants Westling to read the whole report.” That is putting little faith in the administration here at the fourth-largest private university in the country. Westling did not become president by reading the introductory summaries. I know he spent a lot of time deciding on the enhanced antenna proposal the Student Union Residence Life Committee submitted to him last year, and he did not read any summary. He answered our proposal with due time and much consideration. In addition, everyone is entitled to their opinion. That is what makes America a great place; everyone can have their own opinion and not be afraid to share it. Is it fair to lambaste Silber for sharing his opinion? Most everyone knew what it was before he put it in writing. Now, he just made it more official.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that BU is a perfect place. But please, have some pride in the place that you chose for education. I know I didn’t just come here so I could frame a BU degree on the wall of my future office. BU has a lot to offer all of us. The real problems, such as TAs who can’t speak English, are the ones that the Union should be focusing on.

In closing, I urge the BU administration to keep the Guest Policy unchanged. The silent faction likes it, and believe it or not, there is more to this university than 1,192 students and a freshman from Loretto who shows up with a guest on the first day of school.