Student Life administration and members of the student government started holding monthly First Friday Town Halls as a new pathway for communication between students and faculty. 

The meetings give students a chance to share questions and concerns directly with Interim Dean of Students Mark Hagenlocher, who said the goal is to improve transparency and keep the campus better informed.

“We got fairly consistent feedback last year that we didn’t necessarily let people know what was going on or give people a heads up,” Hagenlocher said. “So what we’re trying to do is improve that communication with the student body.” 

Student government officials said they supported the effort. 

 “It is an opportunity for students to come and hear firsthand from people who make decisions for the institution in general,” Student Body Vice President Amarachi Ejimadu said.

As the name suggests, these meetings are scheduled to be held on the first Friday of every month in Wanamaker. So far this semester, two have happened with mixed results. 

“The first town hall was pretty strong. We had a good turnout of people,” Student Body President Rafa Ascencio Garcia said. He estimated that around 50 students showed up, along with a handful of faculty members. 

The second one, however, was sparsely attended, according to organizers. 

 “In the second town hall, since there were very few people there, my goal was to have a follow-up on certain topics that were touched on in the first town hall,” said Ascencio.  

Many factors may have contributed to the low student turnout at the second meeting, especially competing events on and off campus, according to students and organizers.

“Moving forward, we are working hard not to double-schedule,” Hagenlocher said. 

To raise attendance, he said he may move meetings to a different day next semester, but expects they will remain monthly. 

Students who miss town halls can access meeting archives on Prin Web, which include audio recordings and notes. Guest speakers have also joined the sessions, giving students the opportunity to ask questions on specific topics. 

The first town hall prioritized student concerns regarding the new dining service, with Adam Davis, the senior director of college business and operations, and Melvin Jones, general manager of Fresh Ideas, at the podium. This not only allowed students to have their matters heard, but it also showed who they could go to for any issues later on. 

College President Meggan Madden attended the second town hall meeting. Campus Security Senator Lerroy Mwoka took the chance to ask her a question regarding the price of parking passes on campus. 

“I got a really good answer and it led to a discussion that might possibly lead to some changes being made to the price, or some more rationale on why the price is,” Mwoka said. 

So far, many students who have attended the First Friday Town Halls have questioned whether any changes will come from them. 

“Even though it is hard to see immediate change, it gives the people in positions of power a better understanding of what students want, and the possibility of looking into it,” Ascencio said.  

Ejimadu also made sure to point out that any questions that were not able to be answered on the spot are always looked into immediately after and posted in the Watercooler summary of the events. 

For any students who find speaking in front of large crowds difficult, or who want well-thought-out answers on the spot, there is a forum located on Prin Web where students can post anonymous questions. 

“We would rather know ahead of time so we can do a little research, or ask some people some questions, so then we can respond with ‘here’s what we have found so far, and here’s our course of action,’” said Hagenlocher. 

The purpose of First Friday Town Halls, Ascencio said, is part of an effort to build community and a sense of belonging. 

“To work on that, we want people who are engaged and people who are invested in issues in our community,” he said. “It is relevant to their daily lives, and they can be a part of that community that is thriving for positive change, and they can be a part of that through town hall meetings.” 

The next town hall is scheduled for Nov. 7.