Transparency Trap: Student Forum

Radio Free George

A full recap of the January 29th open forum discussing the issue's addressed of WAC's administrative non-transparency in the recent Transparency Trap podcast. Although the administration and the student body were invited, only the students came to the discussion. The forum covers many issues and offer action steps for the administration at the end. Provided bellow are the time marks to help navigate the discussion if you are unable to listen to the forum in it's entirety. The format bellow follows: (TIME 00:00) Specific Topic. (0:00-4:11) Introduction (4:11-6:11) Nicole's debrief of the podcast. (6:11-8:59)Jonah on Losing Ms. Veronica; The community impact of fiscal struggles. (9:00-10:50)Kayla - "What has been the administrations response to the podcast?" (10:50-11:50) Annalie on WAC's issues with Title IX. (12:30-15:34) Bess - "I was under the impression Candace Wanamaker no longer work at this school". (15:41-24:30) Annalie on PEERSmart, Her experience with harassment on campus and how Candace Wanamaker gave her advice opposite to Title IX guidelines. Also the results of the Title IX student survey. (24:30-26:18) Evan - Cut from the podcast, President Powell on Cat Calls "I don't have a problem walking down Wash Ave" (26:18-27:30) Kayla - "Why is the college so hesitant to address issues with Candace Wanamaker?" (27:30-28:49) Nicole on the effects of administration turnover, addressing diversity in leadership roles. (28:49-30:39) Evan on the Board of Governors: Their job at the college and how we can diversify leadership on the board. (30:39-31:52) Jonah explains the role of PEER Smart on campus. (31:52-32:46) Jonah - "The Board needs to understand that the student experience is different than the administrative-faculty experience." (32:46-33:36) Jonah - "They aren't hiring people that look like me". (33:36-34:42) Evan on Tuition and Faculty Cuts. (34:42-38:39) Pat - "It seems fast to change presidents, what has been accomplished from last spring's student demands?" and SGA President Elizabeth Lily's response. (38:39-39:38) Nicole transitioning the conversation to discussing possible solutions to these issues. (Fix the Blue Lights!) (39:38-41:11) Kayla - "Is the administration only willing to respond to things they put forward?" and Nicole's answers with an anecdote about the faculty unionization. (41:11-43:32) Jonah on solutions - "We want action based solutions and more administrative engagement outside of Sarah Feyerherm". (43:32-45:37) Evan on diversity as a financial asset, and how WAC passed on 4.5 Million Dollars in tuition. (45:37-46:41) Evan explains yearly givings and how it reflects the fraught alumni relationship. (46:51-48:51) Emma - "Why isn't a multicultural space in an off campus house that the school owns?", Jonah responds with his understanding. (48:51-55:28) Annalie's solution ideas: Build trust, prioritize accountability, honesty, and a care for the students safety. (55:28-57:50) Leah on a lack of disability accessibility, and a self-fulfilling prophecy for WAC's disability accommodations. (57:50-59:41) Leah on permanence of leadership and building trust. (59:41-60:42) Grace on accessibility, invisible disabilities and her own chronic illness. (60:42-62:42) Kayla - "The administration is not considerate of students and alums when they were here, and when they leave", gives example of 2020 graduation debacle. (62:42-63:39) Evan expands on the yearly giving issues. (63:39-66:09) Evan tells the story of how he got a cease and desist message from President Powell. (66:09-67:20) Bess - "How many times must the students come forward? When do we go public with this?". (67:20-69:16) Nicole on how losing money got blamed on the faculty Unionization because "it didn't look good for the school". (69:16-73:18) Evan talks about the positive changes which have occurred since the podcast was released. (73:18-76:31) Actions steps which the Transparency Trap team has to offer.