Collegiate Times

Zenobia Hikes' desired to create a campus environment where major university decisions were not carried out by distant administrators, but would instead be inspired by the leadership of its outstanding students, said interim vice president for student affairs, Ed Spencer. Upon her arrival, Hikes moved to create open forums for conversation, where students and faculty could voice their concerns and opinions freely.

One such event that she proposed occurred last night in the Graduate Life Center where more than 100 people packed the multi-purpose room brimming with ideas and suggestions to better the Virginia Tech community. The forum, sponsored by SGA and the Alliance of Concerned Students, met Tuesday to discuss five issues that concerned the Tech community.

The forum continued with five topics being discussed at tables. Each topic was given a 12-minute period of discussion. Facilitators were present at each table to transcribe suggestions and concerns students and faculty members had.

The five topics were whether forums for open discussion and students' thoughts existed on campus; the status of the principles of community at Tech; the environment for Tech's LGBT students; the growing numbers of each incoming freshman class; professors' research and whether it has an adverse affect on students' education; and finally the students' overall perception of Tech.

Students touched on the issue with classroom time and how professors were using the time.

"Professors should leave room at the end of class because (usually) they have a set lesson plan," sophomore biology major Chelsea Bradley said. "They don't really leave time to answer questions and some students are left in class with many questions."

Another topic that sparked many students' interest was the growing numbers of incoming freshman classes, including the class of 2012, the largest in the university's history. One table discussed the possibility of students choosing Tech over other schools because of the April 16 shootings.

Sophomore math major, Danielle Bernabe, was a part of class 2011 -- the first incoming freshman class after April 16.

"I was a part of the first incoming class after 4/16 and accepted my admittance before" the shootings, Bernabe said. "My mom offered to send me to another school but I wanted to come to Tech for the bond that I would share with the incoming class."

Students also discussed the overcrowding of dining halls and bus system. Sharing their horror stories waiting in line for absurd amounts of time at West End dining hall and Au Bon Pain.

The topic concerning professors and whether their research had adverse affects on students' learning drew much discussion.

"Their research affects students when they put it ahead of their classes, cutting down on office hours and sometimes even canceling class," said senior English and political science major Danny Tinsley.  

After the five topics were discussed at the round tables, the discussion was then turned over to the entire group. Assistant director of the SGA initiative Hokies on Fire and junior finance major Brandon Carroll, addressed the group.

"There is disconnect with faculty members and students and we should set up lunches or meals on campus or downtown to build relationships because we are a community," Carroll said.

The ACS and SGA plan to hold the forum every year, and have monthly meetings for students in the spring.

Taris Mullins, senior English major and executive board member for the Alliance of Concerned Students, said they wanted to have the forum to discuss campus issues and concerns the student body is dealing with, and establish an environment with open discussion between students and administration.