Release the Bracken

The phrase "out with the old, in with the new" applies to IUP students, faculty and administration alike as the campus faces changes in the coming year.

IUP welcomes several new faces this semester. The changes won't just include a freshman class, but also  new university and Student Government Association presidents.

Interim president Dr. David Werner, formerly the chancellor of Southern Illinois University, replaced former president Tony Atwater in August.

Werner shared a vision for IUP's future on the IUP website. It includes diversity, civility, accountability, shared governance, student-centered emphases.

Werner's plan sounds refreshing, because a lot of these items were lacking under the previous president.

For example, his plan for shared governance is something that Atwater's presidency arguably lacked.

Atwater angered the university senate with his lack of transparency on several different issues. His actions led the faculty to vote no confidence in him.

Atwater also angered the SGA, which filed a list of grievances against him because they felt he was not in tune with the student issues.

Werner's plan to provide a student-centered emphasis is a refreshing step in repairing the damaged relationship Atwater had with students.

Students can only hope Werner will have a lot more interaction with them aside from appearing at IUP Day and giving out ice cream, while spending the rest of the year locked inside his own bubble. Students are looking for a president that is more in tune with them and their needs.

Werner will begin the year with a lot on his plate. He will face many issues including the continued push to create a multicultural center on campus, the university budget and the opening of the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

Right now, not a lot is known about Werner's future vision as he has only had about a month to begin implementing his plan.

Hopefully, the IUP community will give him time and relations will improve, allowing IUP to move forward.

SGA is also changing. New president David Bivens (senior, political science) replaces Alyssa Stiles (senior, pre-dentistry).

Bivens also faces several challenges, including student government involvement.

Dealing with this issue will be especially difficult. SGA has not opened up to student groups. Bivens said in an April interview that many students did not take part in meetings.

He also said there was a problem of SGA members missing meetings. Bivens promised in February he would "reshuffle" the organization and make it more efficient in meeting students' needs.

Stiles, the former SGA president, made moves to be more representative of all students. She worked with Mosaic to petition for a multicultural center and created the list of grievances against Atwater. These moves showed that SGA is in tune with students.

There is a long way to go for Bivens. He will need to work a lot to "reshuffle" SGA and reach out to more student groups.

The relationship between SGA and the student body will be key.

In return, student organizations also need to reach out and welcome SGA with open arms. SGA cannot represent the students if concerned students do not reach out to them.

Student organizations should contact SGA members and attend their open meetings to voice concerns. SGA should be more than happy to address those problems and see what can be done. If both sides work together, the IUP community will see results.

Communication is key as we look toward the future. It will take the administration, faculty and students working together to solve the problems we all face.

Don't just whine, be involved. That way, IUP can move forward.