The NEIU Independent

Issue date: 11/21/06 Section: Opinion

Something has been bothering me ever since I started here at NEIU. No its not the food available in the cafeteria, or the lack of availability of classes (even thought that is a huge problem.) I can deal with all that and graduation will come soon enough. But one thing that has seriously bothered me is the generally low expectations that are found everywhere on campus. It almost seems like they're out to boost our self image than actually teach useful material.

Starting from the top we hear President Steinberg justifying the rather long period of time that it takes students to graduate from this school. Rather than making a case strong case to improve the graduation rate we are given reasons why students take a longer time but that never includes the lack of classes available to students and awkward schedule that students have to deal with. Students would love to graduate in a more timely manner but the university is not set up to graduate students.

From the low expectations from the administration we move on to the curriculum that is offered on campus. From a general education program that includes much content that's offered in High School and in some cases even middle school to professors that just don't care, it can be difficult trying to comprehend why were paying so much for these classes. And the major wildcard once getting that degree is how well is it going to stack up against some one from UIC or another comparable school?

The massive egos that seem to guide the administration seem to have made their way down to the student level where many organizations are bogged down by a bizarre addiction to bureaucracy. Big egos usually go hand in hand with ambition but not here, people seem more eager to hold each other back and settle into a sad stalemate than become bigger, better, and more influential. I've confronted several colleagues and associates of mine with their conformity only to be put on the defensive. People would rather continue with the usual and feel good about themselves than be innovators.

This seems to be the culture on campus to just get by and hope for the best. There seems to be no interest to improve on what been done. At certain points it starts to feel like de ja vu. HOME causes a raucous; Jesse Jackson speaks on campus; students ignored by faculty. The only news story that becomes more spectacular every year is the annual SGA scandal. In 05 the president at the time was put on trial by the SGA judiciary system. This year the old president might face a real judiciary system. Spectacular! While were on the topic of the SGA, it still boggles my mind why they continually reduce the requirements that students must meet to lead some of the clubs on campus. If a person has responsibilities with the family and work and can't manage to be a full time student how are they going to have time to lead a student organization? I can say with certainty that they won't and the students in the organization will ultimately suffer from that. This is college we should be shooting for the stars we have to rest of our lives to give into the doldrums of dealing with reality.

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