It’s not everyday that a university seeks campus-wide input regarding its vision for the next decade. Georgetown, however, has done just that, and one might reasonably expect a vocal student response.
On Tuesday, Georgetown held the first of two open houses regarding its 2010-2020 Campus Plan. Students were invited by a university-wide e-mail sent Monday to learn about the plan and to contribute feedback. According to a Hoya reporter who was present, the meeting went smoothly, with one visible problem: The students it was intended to benefit were noticeably absent.
The university has heard the opinions of the neighborhood in a series of open meetings with the community. While we acknowledge that students are busy in the week before Thanksgiving, they ought to follow the neighborhood’s lead, and take a greater interest in expressing their opinions and concerns.
The Campus Plan can and will affect the current and future student population in a number of areas ranging from transportation to living space. Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle routes, for instance, may change to allow multiple stops around campus. While that measure could make getting to the bus stop more convenient, it would also likely make the routes longer. Another aspect of the plan very relevant to students is the proposal to construct additional graduate housing on the 1789 Block; while the plan allows for additional graduate housing, it does not mention adding or renovating undergraduate accommodations. With only two years of guaranteed campus housing eligibility, undergraduate students in particular should be taking more of an interest in any plans for university housing expansion.
We are not denying that some students’ voices have already been heard. The university did consult with some students, as well as other university and community members, in developing the plan. That fact, however, should not discourage students from continuing to be engaged in the process. Perhaps with the Campus Plan already drafted, some students feel that their input would have little effect. Yet, given that only the first draft of the plan has been written, changes are still very possible – both for better and for worse.
The second open house is being held today in the ICC Auditorium at 10 a.m. We urge our fellow Hoyas to attend the meeting, and to have a say in the direction of the university. Without an active student presence, the Campus Plan proposals will lack the perspectives of those it will most affect.
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