Wildeman to host another town-hall meeting next week
By Leanna Roy
Lance Writer
March 3, 2010
On Tuesday March 9 Alan Wildeman, president of the University of Windsor will be holding a student town hall meeting in the Ambassador Auditorium in the CAW Centre from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The meeting will consist of an informal presentation followed by a question and answer period to discuss key issues impacting the university and to allow students to ask questions important to them.
In his efforts to reach out to the student voice, Wildeman has introduced these meetings as something that will occur on a regular basis.
The president has expressed that connecting with the students is key to creating a successful university agenda. Wildeman maintains that “it’s vital for the president to be out there developing relationships of trust that help us go forward.”
Due to the lack of attendance at the last student town hall meeting, attendance at this upcoming event is crucial for it to successfully and fully benefit the student body.
“I hope that the people will see it as an opportunity to ask questions to gain a better sense of what I do,” said Wildeman, “students are really central to what the university is doing.”
Wildeman's correspondence with the university’s students shows as he plans to discuss what is invariably on most students’ minds. Money.
“I want to talk about how the university’s budget is deprived and I would like to talk about the importance of grants and government funding,” Wildeman stated.
In light of the university’s budgetary concerns Wildeman stated that “sometimes students want things that are simply impossible,” and he plans to explain at this upcoming meeting.
Wildeman admits that executive leaders do not have all the answers to every issue but realizes “some students have great ideas” and these meetings are a the perfect opportunity to find some solutions from the students themselves.
“We need to know if the university is doing things that are not having a positive impact on the students,” said Wildeman.
Wildeman plans to show students the workings of the university’s budget which should give students guidance in creating optimistic yet realistic goals.
“This doesn't mean that we can do what everyone wants to be done, but if everyone understands how our resources are used and where we are trying to get at a broad level, then the appropriate action can be taken.”
Wildeman is enthusiastically accepting student submissions of what issues they would like to discuss at the upcoming meeting. Submissions can be sent online at www.uwindsor.ca/townhall or to the event coordinator, Marcela Ciampa at mciampa@uwindsor.ca. |
