Students must exercise voices
Observer Editorial
The Observer Editorial Staff
This is the third in a series of editorials commenting on the proposed alcohol changes at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame students finally used their voice at the student government-sponsored rally to discuss the proposed changes to the alcohol policy.
It's about time.
After several attempts by Brooke Norton and Brian Moscona, student body president and vice president respectively, to rally student unity around causes like tailgating and football ticket distribution, it took a ban on "hard" liquor and in-hall dances to motivate students to action. Ironically, this only lends credibility to the administration's concerns that alcohol resides at the center of Notre Dame's campus culture.
Although the students' focus on the elimination of in-hall dances was a positive demonstration of their commitment to an important issue, the rally should be the beginning of a larger movement to establish student voice in campus policy. Having a voice means transcending symbolic demonstrations like burning du Lac; it means gaining active influence in the decisions that occur on Notre Dame's campus.
By attending the rally, students overwhelmingly declared that the administration's decision not to consult student government before the major revisions was wrong. While the administration may have valid concerns to protect students from alcohol-related incidents, its failure to involve the student body's elected representatives in the decision process denies the students their deserved voice. The administration's unilateral action blatantly disregards student sentiment — something the University should promote.
Once again the administration has tried to assert its "in loco parentis" policy, but this time students have declared that they will not be shut out of the decision-making process. It's time that students care about their role in the formation of student life policies. Otherwise, like children, Notre Dame students will be seen but not heard.
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, March 21, 2002
