I recently attended the student-led forum that was organized so that student concerns could be addressed. I was sorely disappointed with how the event was carried out. The student-submitted concerns were lumped together and read in such a way that the Administration was not forced to give complete answers to the students’ questions. This also allowed the faculty to dodge some of the most vital concerns. When questions were addressed, the faculty or administration representative who was answering the question often took the wording out of context and avoided the real problem. When the administration or faculty did give answers, I got the distinct impression that they were only trying to pacify the students.

The most glaring example of Erskine’s misdirection is in the change the motto used by Admissions. The old motto read, “Christian Commitment and Excellence in Learning.” The new motto reads, “Forever Connected.” Many students are left baffled as to what exactly we are forever connected to. When this question was brought up in the forum, a member of Erskine’s PR Department stated that the new motto was primarily meant to appeal to sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen year olds. He said that since Erskine is trying to recruit students, this new motto is thought to help in that effort. When he addressed the question of what Erskine was forever connected to, he said that it was implied that we are forever connected to “Christ, learning, and life.” Who in their right mind sees those two words and infers that we are connected to Christ, learning and life? I certainly don’t. I first though it sounded like a wireless internet slogan or maybe one for a cell phone plan. Erskine’s new motto could just as soon be “more bars in more places” or “sign up for the Erskine family plan and you too can be forever connected.” I hardly think we should be forced to imply that we are a Christian college. Erskine is the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church’s college. We tell the world we are a strong Christian school, yet from what I have seen and heard we are falling apart.

The faculty and administration in attendance also took the questions asked out of context and turned them on the students. One question concerning the recruitment of athletes was turned around to paint the student asking the question in a very bad light. He had merely asked why Erskine did recruit more student-athletes who were not just good athletes, but also good scholars and interested in a small school. His question was justified, because many student-athletes come to Erskine solely to play sports, not because they wish to be an addition to the College’s academic and social life. It is true that many athletes do not fit this description, but enough do to create quite a negative reputation. The student asking why this is so was accused of saying that athletes cannot excel in all areas of life. He was not claiming this at all. In changing the issue into an attack on the questioner, the administration avoided answering the question. This is disappointing and frustrating.

The students who attended the forum were concerned enough about the direction in which Erskine is headed to spend over two hours listening to the dialogue between faculty and students. We did not attend so that we could be pushed to the side and ignored. We are dissatisfied with direction in which Erskine is heading and we want to be answered, not patronized. I believe that the response we received from the college faculty and administration is a direct result of their insecurity. They are getting defensive. Defensive enough to wash away student opinions written in sidewalk chalk and avoid answering students well thought out questions. Erskine knows their students are unhappy, yet instead of answering us honestly, they are avoiding the issues of importance and exacerbating the problem.