The Hatchet staff released their endorsement for PB Executive Chair today. They open their editorial with a telling line: “Program Board is one of those organizations that drifts on and off of students’ radars. It’s popular when Jason Mraz or PostSecret comes to campus, but when it’s not making headlines, it is largely forgotten.” (emphasis mine)
This is exactly what I want to change about Program Board. We are in a position of immense fiscal and social responsibility, and half the university has no idea why we exist. The current PB administration has done little to remedy this situation, or to make PB more public and more accountable. You can be sure Program Board will continue to be largely forgotten unless I am elected Executive Chair.
The Hatchet seems to be obsessed with PB’s concert programming. No, I don’t have concerts programming experience. I don’t pretend to. The best place for that experience is in the Concerts Committee, not in the Executive Chair. Leave the programming to our programming chairs. I am an administrator.
As an administrator, I am aware of my personal weaknesses and of my need to rely on a strong Executive Board. Relying on others is part of community, communication, and collaboration. It is a mistake for any executive to think that they can singlehandedly provide quality programming, and it is misleading for an executive to take majority credit for events coordinated by others. With the help of strong programming committees, I will continue to provide really great events.
I believe GW already has enough great events on campus. The biggest problem is a lack of advertising support for events and a lack of openness while planning them. Yes, “PB has the potential to put on some really great events.” It also has the potential to be an advocate for smaller student organizations and a keystone of the larger GW community. PB as a whole – not a few events – must be that keystone.
PB is more than just concerts. PB needs to use its clout to support other organizations through an outward, proactive approach. To make sure that PB remains on students’ radars, we have to focus on quality events throughout the year, which means helping other organizations and co-hosting events as much as possible. It means communicating both the good and bad to the student body and asking for suggestions and help. It means fostering a community that remains on campus between events.
The Hatchet is clearly concerned about the future of Program Board. So am I. You can vote for more of the same, or you can vote for progress. The choice is yours. Don’t let Program Board be forgotten again. Be a part of what happens.
