Task Force student rep qualified

It is disappointing to hear that students are turning on one another regarding the student representative of the BU Community Task Force (“Students should pick representative,” Feb. 19, pg. 6). Jessica Crooker (CAS ’05) was nominated by our office and endorsed by the Local Students’ Union for the Task Force. Contrary to Carl Woog’s comment, Boston University did not circumvent the student body’s voice; instead BU sought a student’s voice from the student body.

Are you saying that commuter students are not members of the student body? Jessica can and does fairly represent BU students because she is a BU student. It is true Jessica commutes two hours each way to get to BU every day. BU students come from each of the surrounding communities and from every state and hundreds of countries. Why is it again that a Task Force student representative should only live on campus or in Allston, Brighton, Audubon Circle or Mission Hill?

In order for a student to represent the university on a committee or in a leadership position, it is the privilege of the university to appoint the representative(s) and does not need to seek the Student Union’s approval.

Not only is Jessica the vice president for programming for the Local Students’ Union, she has worked with the Office of Orientation and Off-Campus Services for two years. Due to the nature of work in our office, she is familiar with the surrounding neighborhoods of the university and student concerns, which further qualifies her for such an appointment.

Other students have served on this Task Force in the past and there will be other students that succeed Jessica in the future. This is an ongoing Task Force that will continue to evolve as the university’s Master Plan becomes a reality.

I would like to thank Jessica Crooker for her contributions to the university. I believe you owe Jessica a written apology for your inappropriate and inaccurate comments.