State of University ignores state of students

IU President Adam Herbert delivered his State of the University address yesterday to a primarily adult audience in the Frangipani Room of the Indiana Memorial Union, and, alas, that audience included too few students. Thus, not surprisingly, Herbert's address was far removed from student issues. \nWhile it's debatable which stakeholders have the most to gain from the University, the financial investors or the student investors, it is clear to us that both should be addressed in Herbert's annual speech. And it is the failure of both Herbert and the students that student issues were not addressed.\nWe don't discredit the merits of Herbert's objectives. Mission differentiation, increased accountability, a larger focus on life sciences and improved economic development are lofty yet worthy goals of the University, and they deserve a great amount of attention.\nWith last year's speech in mind, we commend him for staying vigilant on the goals he outlined in 2004. And we hope he can improve the University with the goals he outlined yesterday, for those goals are certainly commendable.\nBut Herbert barely mentions issues that would directly impact students. While Herbert mentions increasing student diversity three times in the entire 46 minute address, he never espoused how the University intends to do so -- which is especially troubling in light of a recent IU report which claims the University is doing too little to bridge the academic achievement gap.\nWhile Herbert points out that IU plans to increase admissions standards, he does little to detail how the University plans to decrease tuition costs. In fact, Herbert never even said the word tuition. \nHe never mentioned graduation rates or how the University plans to create jobs for graduates. He did inform the audience about the progression of Advancing Indiana, an economic organization that attempts to foster a relationship between the University and corporations in the state. But the chairman of Advancing Indiana, Bill Hunt, said during the last Trustee meeting he didn't know how the program will create jobs for students.\nWhile Herbert is directly to blame for the content of the speech, he's not solely to blame for the lack of student interest. \nIf students want representation, they have to actually attend Herbert's addresses. There were only a handful of students in attendance and most were assigned to be there by professors. \nThe only way Herbert will know he has to be accountable to students is if we are there to hold him accountable. At no other point is the president of a Big Ten university more accessible than in a speech on public record. \nWe challenge the student body to show up in greater numbers to future addresses, not only given by Herbert but also other University officials. Maybe then Herbert will thank the students during his speech more often than he thanks the University donors.\nHe could help increase student turnout by making the address relative to student issues, like minority outreach, tuition costs, graduation rates and jobs. Until then, students won't attend the speech, and the cycle will continue.\nHerbert's speech was addressed to "members of the IU family." We are troubled that students aren't considered to be a part of this family.