Opinion

Students ignore Oldham’s invitation, future of the university

“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child…” Proverbs 22:15 (King James Version)

It is shear foolishness for adults in college to ignore emails from the school and if foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, then what does that say about college students?

Tech sends out daily emails called “Tech Times” to all students, they even send out a faculty version.  Tech Times has information for all the events going on that day. This included a “Live Chat with the President” last week.
I was disgusted at the showing for the Chat with the President. No more than seven students showed up and maybe eight faculty/staff members.  

This chat was designed so the president could get feedback on the changes on campus and any input he could from students and what did we do? We ignored someone seeking wisdom and counsel from the people he is doing his best to support.
“How long, ye simple one, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge.” Proverbs 1:22 (KJV)

How long will we sit back and ignore the opportunity to have a say on our lives here at Tech. We are here for four years and work just as hard as our administration. We join groups, we do community service, but we won’t take one hour to sit with someone who wants to hear from us about our school.
Believe it or not, this is your school, it’s my school too. I love Tech, but no institution or system of government is in perfect condition. Just like with voting for our governors, representatives, and presidents, we want these people to truly represent the people meaning, you and me. That is what President Oldham is trying to do, but we aren’t helping by ignoring our emails from Tech Times.
I will admit, the talk was poorly advertised, but when you walk by a sign a couple of times when walking in and out of the first floor of the Roaden University Center going to South Patio, how can we fail but take notice of a sign. We noticed it when TAB did the stuffed animals. In fact, we made B-lines for it.
We are more interested in “things” though. “I’m hungry,” “I’m running late for a class,” “It isn’t a free give away from TAB.” These are the excuses I used to use. I don’t any more, because I am being given the opportunity to express my concerns and opinions.
Most of us scorn the very act of the inconvenience of another “useless” email. This is foolish! I suggest we all make more of an effort to read the Tech Times.  It’s really simple to do, you just point and click and open the email up, then read it. Yet we seem to think it is an inconvenience?
We truly are simpleminded if we can’t even do this one simple thing.
“The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” Proverbs 3:35 (KJV)
Shame on us, how can we expect to be wise if we don’t first make ourselves available to talk? President Oldham is doing so much to be apart of this school and the students. I suggest we take the time to do the same.
How will President Oldham know any of our traditions if we don’t talk to him? We can’t expect him to know everything after only seven months.
I consider President Oldham to be one of the wisest men I know, mainly because he knows that it is the students that keep this place going, because if there were no students, he wouldn’t have the job he has. The faculty and staff keep it together, but it’s his job to make sure it is up to speed with the rest of the country, making sure we send out top quality alumni who help improve our country.
I say it is time we all become more active in the community we are a part of. Make the initiative to change your plans and plan to be at the one next month. He deserves our time because he is giving us his.