We’re thrilled that Binghamton University’s division of administration intends to expand the Information Commons and make it more student-friendly (see Page 1). But what makes the move even more welcome is Vice President for Administration James VanVoorst’s assertion that at least part of the motivation to do so came from student input at last Wednesday’s Town Hall forum.

Thank you, administration, for listening to students at the forum. This underscores the usefulness of such events, and helps recover a modicum of faith in administrators among a jaded (or apathetic) student body.

Ah, there’s that apathy again: only around 20 students showed up. Frankly, the number of empty seats was embarrassing.

We as a student body missed the chance to really stand together and have our voices heard on issues across the board, from General Education requirements to the drop deadline.

And speaking of the drop deadline: VanVoorst’s admirable claim that action on the Information Commons was influenced by student response at the Town Hall forum stands in sharp contrast with the responses given by Provost Mary Ann Swain, who icily cut off many questions (granted, some of them deserved it) and seemed as though she had to be bodily dragged into the room just to get her to make an appearance. The image she puts forth is that she’s hell-bent on pursuing her academic agenda, and any student who dares ask “why” will be crushed. Her performance has earned her near-universal antipathy among those who saw it, and any chance at getting students to appreciate the complex decision making her job surely entails has gone out the window.

The message to students should be clear: we need to turn out in well-informed numbers and hold administrators accountable for what they do to and for our school. This should happen at every level, from division vice presidents right on down to your resident director, and we shouldn’t stop until … ever. Let’s get involved and stay involved, so we can actually have a say in our educations and habitations.