ASPC Senate Blog

So I’m not really sure exactly how this blog will be used - its ultimate function amongst a student body that I fear will rarely peruse its contents. But I figure we all have to start somewhere, right? So I’m going to start with some stuff that I just read about in TSL. I have nothing very concrete to inform anyone about, but maybe we can have another forum to express opinions that may eventually lead to something.

Fortunately, there were three separate articles in the Opinions section (none in the News) about Pomona’s abysmal showing in the 2007 College Sustainability Report Card. Honestly, this is the first time in quite a while that I’ve been embarassed for Pomona. Ashamed, even. This school has worked so hard in the last couple of decades to build its national reputation as an educational leader and we have failed so completely in a category in which so many of our peer institutions are clearly succeeding. Whoops. I don’t think the Pomona administration would be satisfied with us students receiving a C+ in any of our classes, and I don’t think that any of us should be satisfied with the administration receiving a C+ on a nationwide scale.

But what to do? The Senate, at the very beginning of this school year, collectively decided that environmental issues would be at the forefront of our minds at all times. Some great strides have been made and Becky Abbey has done some fantastic work with the EQC, but I think that overall we, too, are failing. Pomona has a lot of ground to make up and not a lot of time to do so.

I love this place, this institution. I want to see it succeed and I love being proud to say that this is where I’ve spent the last four years. But now I’m embarassed. So let’s do more in more areas. Let’s continue building this place, even though most of us on the Senate won’t be here to see the fruits of our labors. I have ideas for stuff under my own jurisdiction - the Speakers Committee, eg - but it’d be great to here thoughts from other Senators or students, already involved or not, on what we can do. Pomona should be a leader among peer institutions in as many fields as possible. The students here rarely settle for less than their best, and the institution shouldn’t either.

And so, if you’re still reading, leave a comment. Thoughts, opinions, ideas, just let me know that people are actually reading this. Let’s do this.

We have just learned about the blog!

We’ve just finished launching the new ASPC website with its updated look and feel. Many of the sections of the site are still lacking in content, but they will be filled in gradually over the coming weeks. For the time being, the old version of the site is still available to make sure that all its resources continue to be accessible to students.