More than customers

Regarding Friday’s page-one article on the lack of student voices in University decisions, I was dismayed to read the comment by the chairman of IU’s Board of Trustees.

Speaking of and to students, he said, “You are our customers.”

That may be the perspective of a businessman, appointed by a business-oriented
governor.

But it betrays a lack of understanding of what goes on in the classroom and the relationship between faculty members and our students.

It perpetuates an attitude of entitlement among students that faculty must work to
overcome.

The chairman’s remark exposes a structural inadequacy in the composition of the board.

IU students have a member on the board. IU Alumni elect three members. The governor appoints the remaining members. IU faculty have no representation.

A faculty board member could offer a corrective to such comments and, in a collegial spirit, educate and inform fellow board members about the perspective of a major constituency of this University.

So, as IU students seek to have a greater voices in University decisions, I hope you will consider advocating for a faculty member on the IU Board of Trustees.

­— Claude Cookman, Ph.D.
Professor, IU School
of Journalism