WMU News

Bailey meets with students in Open Forum

Feb. 5, 2004

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University students and other members of the community will be able to solicit answers to a wide variety of questions at the next Open Forum with WMU President Judith Bailey at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the Bernhard Center Bronco Mall. Several WMU vice presidents also will be on hand to field questions.

Students and others attending the forum will be able to ask questions directly to the panel of WMU administrators on any topic they wish. The forum is expected to last approximately one hour. Anyone with questions or concerns about any WMU issue is welcome and encouraged to attend.

This forum, organized by the Western Student Association, is the first during spring semester. WSA organized two similar forums in the fall.

Fall semester's forums were held in the West Ballroom of the Bernhard Center. The location has been changed to the Bronco Mall to create a more student-friendly atmosphere and to solicit greater student participation, according to Shavonne Petts, WSA co-chair of public relations.

Since the previous forum, several issues have surfaced that are of special interest to the WMU student body. Many such issues stem from the current financial state of the university, including concerns about the recent elimination of four varsity athletic programs and the reduction and subsequent restoration of library hours. These and other concerns, such as parking and parking fees, will likely be discussed at the forum.

According to Petts, the forum is an excellent way for members of the WMU community, especially concerned students, to make their voices heard.

"The open forums give students a chance to directly address the heads of the university administration," Petts says. "Student attendance at this forum and other events like it let the administrators know that WMU students are concerned about what goes on at their university, that they want their concerns to be considered when policy and budgetary decisions are made."

For more information, contact Zak Walsh or Shavonne Petts in the WSA office at 269 387-2194.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu


WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
269 387-8400

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news