Student organizations at Calvin are an excellent way for students to get involved in areas of interest outside of the classroom. Many different student organizations are available to all students on campus, and there are many opportunities for students to be involved in leadership roles within those organizations. The setup of the student organizations here at Calvin is unique because students run the organizations while faculty are used solely as advisors and resources. Calvin should preserve the current student leader - faculty advisor structure present in all student organizations so that students can obtain the training and experience of running an organization. By upholding this structure Calvin College’s philosophy of “responsible freedom” for students can be maintained.

Students will more freely share their opinions on a CVN show that puts them on an equal pedestal with those who are mediating the discussion

It is important for students to be given opportunities to run organizations at Calvin so that they may be given the experience and training necessary for life after college. Being a leader of a student organization helps one to hone his/her leadership skills in preparation for the possible management positions he/she may hold in the real world. This training, especially with the strong Christian influence, prepares Calvin graduates to be effective leaders in the real world.

Part of leading an organization here on campus is making mistakes and failing at times. If the head of an organization here at Calvin were to make a mistake, he/she would have the opportunity to receive feedback or guidance from the advisor of the organization or other students and faculty. In the real world, if one is a manager and happens to make a mistake or two the person may be fired. Here at Calvin mistakes are seen as learning opportunities.

This leads into the current situation with the CAS department, CVN and WCAL. I strongly believe that there should not be a CAS department takeover of these two forms of media here at Calvin. Other than the fact that opportunities would be limited for students to be in management positions with a takeover, I foresee this would also limit the freedom for students to voice their true opinions through the media here at Calvin. The editorial board nailed it on the head in the April 9 issue of Chimes in saying, “If the student run television and radio stations become an academic product and not the honest, uncensored voice of students, students will [no] longer to be able to use the mediums of television and radio within the ‘responsible freedom’ model that is so important to the Calvin community.” I cannot believe that those involved with media productions on CVN or WCAL would feel the same freedom to express their true opinions with faculty constantly looking over their shoulders and critiquing what they are saying.

In a classroom discussion setting, the professor obviously promotes discussion, but there is often an unseen intimidation factor which may keep many students from sharing their opinions on the subject being discussed. In a setting outside of class, the same students will often freely discuss their opinions with other students. Similarly, students will more freely share their opinions on a CVN show that puts them on an equal pedestal with those who are mediating the discussion on the show. The lack of an intimidation factor and the equality in the importance of opinions of the two students allows for a barrier free discussion.

One example of a CVN program that promotes free discussion of opinions is “The Underground.” On this show a certain topic is presented and callers are allowed to express any and all reactions that they may have to the topic being presented and the angle in which it was presented. This program has the freedom to discuss issues that are normally not talked about in the Christian circle. It would be much more difficult to discuss such issues as pornography as freely if faculty were constantly looking over the students’ shoulders.

A departmental takeover would restrict access to students by instituting course requirements. These requirements would deter students who want to get involved, and who see the organization as a fun way to express themselves creatively. In my own experience directing the Calvin Pep Band, I think that what makes the Pep Band thrive is that anyone who can play a musical instrument within the normal instrumentation of a band can join and have a great time. We try to remove any barriers that might possibly cause people to not be able to participate in our organization. If the faculty takes over CVN, some people who would normally be involved under student leadership of the organization would be discouraged from joining because of the entrance requirements.

In conclusion, I would like to stress that Calvin should uphold the philosophy of “responsible freedom” in the realm of student organizations. Student organizations are an excellent way for students to enjoy college life outside of the classroom and to gain valuable experience and training for life after Calvin. A separation between student organizations and academic departments is the correct way for a college to go about structuring the extracurricular aspects of college life.