WHILE a variety of probing philosophical inquiries concerning bikinis and mai-tais will be thick in the air this week, one question will no doubt loom above all others: When the hell do we get out of here? Indeed, there is no better time to consult the academic calendar than upon one's sun-baked return to reality. But unfortunately for students, the result might provide a sudden gut-check. While there isn't much to worry about this semester, next year's schedule -- courtesy of the reigning Student Council dynasty upheld in the recent election -- is nothing to smile about.
Anyone whose memory hasn't been obliterated by Sauza shots will remember that just a year ago, students were asked to weigh in on a referendum slightly more significant than "Is Greg delightful?"
In the spring of 2003, student leaders asked students whether they would support stretching the fall semester as late as Dec. 22 in order to provide everyone with extra reading days before exams. Apparently, some concerned politicos decided that we needed more time to "study" in December -- brilliant, since we all know how well-used days off are here in Charlottesville.
Not surprisingly, the student body voiced complete distaste for the plan. Seventy-eight percent of students said no to the idea, and most thought such resounding rejection would do away with the proposal forever. But Council members decided that they knew students' interests better than students did themselves.
Last September, Council President Daisy Lundy proudly unveiled the 2004 academic calendar, the product of her staff's corroborative work with the administration. The unbelievable result? Added reading days and a semester that stretches through December 21.
You have to hand it to Council, they found a way to adhere to the strict ruling of the student body while completely undermining the spirit of the verdict. While students voted yes to the general idea of creating new reading days, they were clearly opposed to any schedule that would cut short winter break. But as usual, Council was less interested in "student self-governance" than in forwarding their own agenda and feeling important.
The prospect of spending an extra week in school come December, when most students around the country will be heading home for the holidays, is particularly distasteful now during the home stretch of this semester. Think the prospect of post-Foxfield Charlottesville is grim? Try to imagine sticking around until Christmas Eve.
Unfortunately, the student body seems to have quickly forgotten the woeful manner in which Council trampled on our interests over the last year. Just before the Community of Trust debarked en masse for Margaritaville, an overwhelming majority of students overlooked the fact that last year's Council disregarded their wishes, and elected as Council President one of the very same self-centered politicos who orchestrated the revised academic calendar.
Council President-elect Noah Sullivan currently serves as Lundy's chief of staff. He was an integral part of all Lundy's administration accomplished. This was, in fact, one of the central focuses of his campaign. Apparently, most students forgot that silly squabbling and a complete disrespect for the interests of the student body characterized the outgoing Council.
Perhaps 78 percent of students were not serious last spring when they voted against extending the semester schedule. Perhaps no one really cared. Perhaps no one noticed the major change to next year's schedule -- but you can be sure everyone will become more and more interested as the fall semester approaches. But by then it will be too late.
No one can turn back the clock and rectify Council's folly -- the academic calendar is set. But students did have the option of sending the message that the University community, like any good democracy, does not tolerate leaders who disregard their constituencies. A vote for Sullivan was a vote for the existing group of politicos who continue to mangle the relatively simple responsibilities with which they are charged by worrying more about their self-importance than reason and practicality. Granted, there were few good alternatives, but voting for anyone else would have been a start.
Instead, the student body played along with the existing game of student politics. It is a shame to see bright chalk and catchy posters blind students to the real issues at stake. Who knows, maybe everyone was thinking forward to Barbados. But when the collective hangover wears off and fall rolls around, it will be interesting to see the reaction around Grounds.
It is entirely possible that Sullivan will break with tradition and actually take interest in what students want, but his track record is not encouraging. If he continues in the footsteps of his predecessors, we will likely see more examples of complete disregard of student concerns. Who knows how much more it will take before the student body stops fooling around and gets serious about realistic student politics.
Nick Chapin's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at nchapin@cavalierdaily.com.
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