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So, Facebook just isn’t my thing. I would rather walk across the hall in Rockwell Towers, knock on a friend’s door and have a real conversation. At the least, I prefer a sticky note on a real door to a message on a virtual wall.
But even Facebook teetotalers like me have heard about a new ‘group’ for dissatisfied Pepperdiners.The group, which is called the “Pepperdine Student Bill of Rights,” has more than 300 members and includes 12 amendments that founders say provide new protections for the rights of students.
The co-founders, freshman Paul Stanford and sophomore Alex Robertson, say they want to cooperate with university administrators to make changes to the way the university’s Christian mission is carried out. According to them, their student bill of rights is meant to further consistency in discipline carried out by the university.
But the writing on their wall and their amendments tell a different story. The amendments (all cleverly written and full of good points) attack policy, rather than suggesting consistency.
And clever as they are, they aren’t especially respectful.
Amendments suggest that alcohol should be permitted off-campus for students older than 21 and that Facebook content should not be used to incriminate students.
There are probably many people on campus, even professors and administrators, who might agree with some of their demands. But they’ve presented themselves as students who want a party school, something that will make higher-ups wary at best.
More likely, it will mean that even the valid points they raise, about legal, off-campus alcohol consumption, about disclosure of all university spending and other issues will fall on deaf ears because of the flagrant disrespect they have demonstrated to the university by packaging their ideas in this way.
The founders say they will bring their ideas to the administration when they have talked to students about them and refined them, but obviously inflammatory language and Facebook as their chosen forum will aggravate policymakers unnecessarily.
The idea that there is a need for a Facebook group because administrators won’t listen otherwise is ridiculous. Sharon Beard, assistant dean of Students, said student’s opinions in all forms are welcomed by the administration, and she encouraged anyone who wanted to make a suggestion to talk to SGA or to administrators directly.
While nothing may change after this kind of discussion, that option is at least available. And given that ultimately, the university holds all the power in this situation, dissenters would do well to dissent respectfully.
Pepperdine is a private university, and as much as we all dislike some of the decisions that have been made by administrators, we have to accept that when we sent in our intent to enroll, we were agreeing to become part of a community with rules, whether we like them or not.
Students should try to change policy when it is unfair, but we have to realize that offending those in power creates an unnecessary stalemate between the administration and the student body.
The founders of the Pepperdine Student Bill of Rights have made no tangible effort to affect change by working with those in charge, but have done plenty to make them angry.
To make policymakers listen, you have to talk to them. Nicely. And like me, they don’t like Facebook.
Most university officials appreciate those with the courage to make an appointment and have a face to face conversation and who are willing to consider that there must be a degree of compromise in order to create a university atmosphere that makes everyone feel comfortable.
Submitted 01-18-2007
MALIBU, CA
