Last Thursday, the student senate voted on a controversial piece of legislation which pushed for mandatory advising of students. The legislation stated that if students did not seek academic advising a block would be placed on their course enrollments. The piece did not pass as some senators felt it was too restrictive.

Andres Vargas, Vice President for Academic Affairs, wrote the legislation that was axed on the senate floor, but vowed he will not quit on finding a solution to the advising problem. The Student Government Association said it will continue to educate and push students to be advised before semester conversion hits campus.

The student government needs to think outside of the box and reach the students that are not present at the weekly senate meetings; the students that are not on subcommittees; the students that are not involved in student organizations. Student government is the missing link that can successfully convert this university to semesters.

As SGA found out after three weeks of deliberation, it is easier said than done. The first step in the right direction may come once senators and SGA vice presidents walk out of their protective bubble of the Curry Student Center and talk to “real” students.

Students on campus may be exhaling knowing they can put off academic advising for another three months, waiting until semester conversion is breathing down their necks. Northeastern students need not be babied or coaxed into their advisor’s office, but heed this warning – the lines are going to get longer and the advisors are going to get overloaded.

For example, in the College of Business Administration, there are 600 students to one advisor, according to the Associate Dean Peggy Fletcher.

How can Northeastern University boast the claim that it will achieve a top 100 ranking in U.S. News and World Reports when it is unable to accommodate its own students? The students, mind you, should be the reason the university strives. The students should be the reason why the curriculum and calendar is receiving a face lift.

Are the students honestly the number one concern? Especially if 600 are assigned to one advisor. This inefficient equation exemplifies, “just another face in the crowd.” With such a large amount of students under their belts there are no faces, only numbers. This is unacceptable.

SGA needs to reach the students who do not care what the provost, the deans and the chairs of departments are saying.

The students have basically stated that they do not want to be punished if they do not see their academic advisor. Could this be that it is impossible to do so, especially since over 3,000 of Northeastern’s students are in the school of business?

Why has the administration not stepped forward and made a statement? Flyers and mass e-mails will not get the point across. A handful of overworked advisors will not get the job done.

The administration needs to step up to the challenge of advising the students and “hold no student harmless” to ensure that the students meet their ultimate goal, not the top 100, graduating on time.