By Kate Augusto
President Joseph Aoun urged senators of the Student Government Association (SGA) Monday night to be advocates for the university. SGA invited him to their meeting to promote open discussion between the administration and students, officials said.
Aoun implored students to take ownership of the university and its mission on and off campus-a task that includes showing the world that Northeastern is no longer a commuter school, he said.
“We want the world to realize [this] and if we don’t realize it, then the world will not realize it,” he said. “We have great momentum, but beyond that, we have great momentum because we are shaping our own destiny. Don’t look to your right, don’t look to your left, look ahead – we have something great going on. This isn’t a thought, this is a reality. I need each one of you to really drive that in your messages, in your communications, when you talk to others.”
President Aoun asked the students, mostly senators, to evaluate where the university is and where it’s going.
“You cannot assume that we are preparing you well for the world,” he said. “No one will prepare you well for the world. You are going to have to prepare yourself well. Frankly, this is something where I need your help, I need you to explain that.”
Before answering questions from students at the meeting, which were not presubmitted, Aoun applauded the university for having students on co-op in 52 cities; told the students that while Northeastern provides global opportunities, it is the students’ responsibility to seize them; and touched on the university’s commitment to promoting diversity.
Ashley Benjamin, SGA vice president for administration and finance, estimated about 65 senators and 20 to 30 additional students attended the meeting, which was advertised through e-mail and Facebook.
The question and answer session started with a student who asked why his favorite teacher at Northeastern, David Massey from the Math department, was suspended at a time when Aoun has expressed commitment to excellent faculty.
“First of all, I want to commend you because you are loyal to the faculty who taught you,” Aoun said. “In my job there are decisions that are difficult to make, but we have to make them.”
Aoun went on to say that he could not discuss the circumstances revolving around the case.
The News did not know the reason for Massey’s suspension as of press time.
Other questions ranged from why there’s not more support for the arts and what the role of Greek life should be to the difference in priorities between administration and students when it comes to community relations.
Benjamin said they chose not to to not have questions presubmitted to make the conversation more casual.
“I think we just wanted to be as open and as easy going for him and the rest of the students,” she said. “We also didn’t want to give a disadvantage to someone who had just heard about it that day.”
Philomena Mantella, senior vice president for enrollment management and student life, said Aoun was available and forthcoming with his answers.
“At times [the questions] were a bit specific but they were things students had on their minds,” she said.
Mantella also said it’s important to have different approaches for Aoun to reach students.
“This was much more free flowing,” she said. “You want to have differences in approach so they speak to various students. I think everybody likes a different type of interaction.”
