After taking in several months of campaigning, voting and transitioning, students at last could witness the Colin Hood administration of Student Council hold its first meeting in office Tuesday evening. The first bill originating from Council this term proposes to replace the ad-hoc Civil Engagement Committee with a permanent Public Service Committee. The Civil Engagement Committee, which formed in February 2009, is currently up for renewal on its one-year "lease," and Council has decided to consider institutionalizing the body to stand alongside the other 10 current presidential committees.
Council President Colin Hood said the primary purpose of this committee would be to connect students at the University with public service opportunities both on Grounds and in the Charlottesville community. Changing the name of the organization is not an attempt to teach an old dog new tricks; rather, Hood indicated, the name change would more clearly define the overall purpose and objectives of the committee. Civic engagement is something of a vague concept, so the move toward "Public Service" as a title seems to make sense and may help to clarify precisely what this committee intends to accomplish. That is the most simple of changes needed to ensure the committee's long-term success.
With a few hundred subscribers, Hood called EngageUVA - an initiative started by the Civil Engagement ad-hoc Committee - body's most significant success, saying that it seamlessly connects students to the many public service opportunities in the area through an e-mail newsletter. The Committee also launched ServiceFest, an event that saw sparse student attendance and concluded earlier than expected because of the low turnout. Rather than simply using the new Public Service Committee as a soundboard for publicizing service opportunities, former Co-Chair Laura Nelson said she hopes the Committee will act as a platform for critical discussion about public service.
This proposal is still in its nascent stages, and Council leaders must walk a fine line moving forward between giving the committee specific, limited responsibilities and broadening its role in the University community enough to justify presidential committee status. Currently the presidential committees include Academic Affairs, Student Life, Environmental Sustainability and Legislative Affairs, among others. Each of the current committees is issue-specific, in the sense that each does more than simply offer services to students; they all delve into a subject of interest across Grounds, such as diversity or sustainability. The Public Service Committee should not act only as a liaison for students or as a promotional tool for different companies and businesses but instead should engage the role of public service in the University community more holistically. For example, the new committee should offer its own opportunities rather than simply publicizing those of other organizations. Working with some of the University's independent organizations, such as the Miller Center for Public Affairs or the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, would be one possible way to bring in guest speakers or offer other service-oriented events on Grounds.
Hood also mentioned the Public Service Committee could serve as a resource for students who aspire to work professionally in a public service-oriented field. To avoid mimicking the role of University Career Services, however, the Committee would need to offer that assistance in a way more catered to helping students develop an appreciation for the role of civic engagement in their lives, not simply provide a list of job opportunities or similar materials.
This challenge strikes at the heart of what this administration must bear in mind as it moves forward with comparable initiatives: The ideas driving these projects must be broad enough to be applicable to as many students as possible, but Council members must be meticulous about implementing specific plans with a narrow focus. Figuring out that paradox is what transforms good ideas into influential and enduring projects. Failing to make that distinction results in a program like the University Unity Project.
Read More
PARTING SHOT: Risk and reward
By Charlie Healy | 11 hours agoThe college newspaper was nowhere on my radar, and I had no previous experience with journalism.
PARTING SHOT: You are your own limit
By Wardah Kamran | 16 hours agoMe, my staffers, we were there. And it happened. And I think that is important enough.
PARTING SHOT: When it comes to art, it pays to pay attention
By Delaney Hammond | 2 days agoEven among people who value the arts, carving out space for critical engagement with — rather than just passive consumption of — art has been an endeavor I have treasured.
