STAFF EDITORIAL: A People's President

Today is the inauguration of Lee Bollinger as 19th president of Columbia University. It is a day when the Columbia community and the world of higher education will look to Bollinger for his plans for the University. The president has many responsibilities, from fundraising to representing the University to the outside community, and Bollinger would do students a service by working to improve their experience at Columbia. Columbia is thriving, but as a large university in one of the world's biggest and busiest cities, it can often be overwhelming and confusing for students to navigate. Inauguration is an opportunity for Bollinger to set the tone for the rest of his tenure, and student concerns should be at the top of his agenda.

Bollinger brings with him from the University of Michigan a reputation for being an accessible and visible president. Since he arrived on campus this summer, he has demonstrated a desire and a willingness to do the same at Columbia. The president is frequently spotted at sporting events and has dropped in on classes. He is currently teaching an undergraduate class, and has announced his intention to teach every year, a commitment not usually taken on by busy university presidents. By extending an invitation to the entire University community to attend today's festivities, Bollinger showed that he wants to involve students in his presidency. If he continues to be a visible presence on campus, Bollinger will gain the respect of students, who are looking for a president who knows firsthand the atmosphere of Columbia.

Being a student-oriented president encompasses more than attending football games, however. Bollinger needs to take real, visible steps towards improving the student experience at Columbia. Columbia is known for the tense, distant, and often acrimonious relationship between students and administrators, and Bollinger should make improving that relationship a priority of his tenure. He can start by filling empty administrative positions with people who show a concern for student welfare. Change cannot occur overnight, but eventually, if students see that administrators see them as more than a source of revenue for the University, they will trust the administration to operate with their best interests in mind.

A change in the attitude of the administration towards students must be accompanied by an improvement in student services and available resources. Every Columbia student can recite a list of pet peeves and grievances, but some problems are especially deserving of attention. Although changes have been made in undergraduate advising, there is still room for improvement. Undergraduates need and want the personal attention of an advisor who knows their background, academic interests, and future goals. Providing prompt, hassle-free access to departments such as Counseling and Psychological Services and Health Services will also make Columbia safer and more supportive. The University is in the midst of a housing crunch, which many undergraduates suspect is due to Columbia College's Enlargement and Enhancement plan. Constant attention should be given to the quality of student housing, and the administration should take care in evaluating the causes of the shortage and its possible solutions. These issues should serve as a starting point for the improvement of the undergraduate experience.

Bollinger's attentions should not be focused solely on Columbia College, however. In order to maintain harmony at such a large institution, he will need to cultivate and maintain good relationships with the many divisions and affiliated schools of the University. Maintaining a friendly, ongoing dialogue with Barnard College President Judith Shapiro is a good place to start, and similar alliances with the heads of other divisions should follow suit. His recently-formed committee to evaluate the education provided by the Graduate School of Journalism is a good step towards improving the J-School experience. Students attending all parts of Columbia deserve a president who knows and speaks for their concerns, and so far, Bollinger is making a good effort to do just that.

Only by taking these steps will Bollinger be able to mold the University's administration to fit his intentions, which he must do if he is to truly focus on the heart of Columbia--its students. Columbia students are intelligent and independent, but they still look for solid leadership that addresses and cares about their lives. Lee Bollinger has a reputation for being such a person, and Spectator hopes he will make students his first priority at Columbia.