It is the end of the year, students are busy grinding away at their final projects and papers, and the last thing that is on their minds is next school year. However, the Editorial Board has been reflecting on this past and thinking about the upcoming year, and we have some things to say.
This year has been full of lead editorial articles ranging from topics like AI on campus, the DEI efforts that the school is making as well as the resources being offered and changed by the school, and we would like to gather all of our thoughts for a final call to action.
A major topic being discussed is the involvement of AI on campus, whether it is the actual use of it in a classroom, rules being implemented by administration or the new AI school—and don’t even get us started on the confusing nature of the difference between the AI college and the AI school. Most students aren’t even sure why the AI school was made in the first place and where the funding came from. It is important for students to know what is going on on campus, and the AI schools are a very confusing aspect of our reality while living here.
The distinction between the schools reads as follows: the New School is the new college that is being tested out currently and hasn’t been put into effect yet. It will utilize community-based and project learning led by AI programs as well as a professor to offer support. The Drew School is an AI based k-8 that utilizes Drew’s resources and campus to give young students a personalized learning experience. However, most students are busy with their own academic lives and are not following along with the constant updates that the school is putting out.
This confusion creates questions regarding transparency on where students’ tuition is going. The lack of communication regarding this program is consistent with how out of the loop students often feel about administrative decisions.
Recently, there has also been a slew of small, private liberal arts schools that have been going through many financial issues, Drew included, and many have been falling through the cracks and closing their doors. Because of this, many universities have been resorting to the creation of new departments, as well as the removal of departments that are deemed as unnecessary or no longer relevant to the curriculum. Drew is following this same course, as the main reason for the creation of all of these new schools is to create more revenue for the school to use while they cut back on departments that no longer serve the school.
Living in this reality as students is terrifying, not having a say or being able to give opinions on the efforts being made to save our school from potential ruin is not what students want to worry about when they have finals and work to worry about as well.
Students come to this school to learn, engage with their community and live in the unique environment that Drew offers, and these circumstances should not have to affect one’s experience here.
Though such issues should be addressed sooner rather than later, Drew has demonstrated unity and community throughout this past school year and that deserves to be celebrated as well.
There have been countless events hosted by different departments and student-run clubs that have brought students together through activities, engagement, laughter and celebration. There have also been others that aimed to uplift student voices through important conversations and dialogues. Such things define what campus life should look like, and Drew’s students and faculty execute them well.
In the recent weeks there have been countless events on campus that have demonstrated such characteristics and more, like the Day Without Immigrants protest led by Esperanza which demonstrated community involvement and brought together students and faculty to highlight the importance of immigrants and their rights.
Additionally, students recently gathered to celebrate the hard work and dedication of other student artists at the most recent Dance Show, similar to the art exhibitions that observers can walk through which feature student-made collections and pieces that were made throughout the semesters in various art classes.
Though there are countless other noteworthy campus-wide events that have happened throughout this year, the premise remains that such events are imperative for college campuses because they boost student voices, bring together various people from similar and different backgrounds or cultures and shed light on necessary topics that surround our daily lives. With this, students can create newfound friendships and find community in the campus they spend their time on.
Drew has succeeded in bringing people together in many ways this year, and this should continue on for the future school years.
Even still, the concerns brought up previously are highly important and are imperative for students to feel like they belong on campus, to feel as though their voices are heard and recognized and to understand more about Drew as a whole.
The Lead Ed is the collective opinion of the Editorial Board.
