NWU Students Fail to Make Their Voices Heard

Nebraska Wesleyan University students are sometimes as quiet as a mischief of mice.

When Eric Etheridge and Dr. Singleton spoke to an audience from NWU and the neighboring community on Nov. 12, they shared stories from a significant period in U.S. civil rights history.

The presentation, “Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders,” ended in painful silence as Dr. Singleton prodded the crowd for questions, indicating that he much preferred dialogue to a lecture.

Perhaps in Wesleyan’s favor, Dr. Stanfield had to conclude the event because of a class scheduled to use the Olin lecture hall. At fault myself because I too didn’t have a question to raise, I was embarrassed that NWU couldn’t carry a conversation with our guests.

I know Wesleyan students are not without opinions. Last year’s Visions and Ventures speaker Katherine Young has become infamous for her inaccessibility – and NWU students who attended the lecture aren’t afraid to tell you about it.

Two possible reasons for the silence at the Nov. 12 forum come to mind: timidity and apathy.

The first has merit. Classes often live or die on the participation of students. At least one professor on campus does what he calls “Duct-tape Teacher Days” in which he, literally, puts duct-tape over his mouth and requires students to lead discussion.  There is no doubt that it can be difficult to speak up in front of peers or professors.

Yet, I feel that is not the predominant reason. If a call for hands was given, I would guess that the majority of students attending Visions & Ventures and the forum speakers aren’t there voluntarily (whether their attendance is required or extra credit is being earned). Professors hope that, despite initial disinterest, students will be drawn in to the presentations.

Dr. Singleton certainly sought to do so as he (just like Naomi Klein) drew from FDR to indicate that nothing can be done unless someone makes them – the government – do it. A call to action.

And Wesleyan’s response? A cricket sound effect would have been appropriate.

How many students have continued any measure of dialogue about this year’s Visions and Ventures theme, “Economic Justice: The Colors of Money?”

How many students take advantage of the feedback systems the campus offers? There are numerous: Letters to the Editor in this paper, President Ohles’ open office hours, Mike Herz’s call for intramurals feedback in his “Intramurals Corner” article and numerous others.

The real question: why haven’t we?