“Life without rebellion is like seasons without spring. Rebellion without truth is like spring in a bleak, arid desert.”

I happened to stumble on those words this past summer just as the Student Senate was in the process of completing VISION 2010, our plan to enhance the student experience at TC academically, professionally, socially, culturally and virtually, and to contribute positively toward the overall student condition and campus climate.

For me, Gibran’s words really resonated. A rebellion might be interpreted as either a revolution or a movement—but either way, it has its genesis in a vision.

As the Student Senate talked about our vision, we realized that a movement is in the cards this year. First, though, we had to envision a TC where not only administrators, but also faculty, embrace the idea that students are truly the lifeblood of the institution. That’s especially important at a place like TC, where we have such a range of student diversity, yet also such widespread commitment to unifying our community.

It is to the latter end that we officially launch our VISION 2010 movement and offer our goals and objectives for this year.

First and foremost, the Student Senate will strive to connect with all our fellow students. We will increase our accessibility to all members of the TC community, especially students; strengthen our role as representatives of the student voice; respond to student concerns; and fortify our role as student liaisons to the administration.

By holding Monthly Student Forums, we will provide a plethora of opportunities for students to tell us their needs and expectations, and to give us feedback on our own performance. The new Student Senate Web site will include a portal where students can find regular updates, listings of important events and discussion boards.

We also want to strengthen relationships between students and their academic departments. By forming a Student Advisory Group for each program, we hope to perpetuate dialogue about improved academic advising, faculty/student mentorship and more. Our department representatives will collaborate with their respective Student Advisory Groups on framing proposals for such improvements.

Our other goals include improving financial aid and campus safety; setting in motion the Go Green Project; and increasing membership in the Senate from 30 to 200 by 2010 by including students on a wide range of standing and ad hoc committees.

Gibran’s insights inspire me to envision a richer, better TC experience for others and myself. I invite you to do the same. So don’t just complain or suffer in silence. Join our movement and live life at TC with rebellion—and rebel with truth.

This is the first in a series of columns by Wright that will appear throughout the year. A profile of Wright appears on the back cover of this issue.

For more information on the Student Senate, visit  www.tc.edu/senate

Published Friday, Oct. 10, 2008