Development requires growth and growth requires freedom. The Office of Student Development facilitates neither.
To make a difference at Marquette, one needs approval. This approval can take very long and is a burdensome obstacle to the free enterprise of students. In the spirit of being solutions oriented, I propose a new paradigm called: “free to choose,” or “innocent until proven guilty.”
This paradigm would allow students to assemble new organizations with less hassle and current student organizations to serve their missions with fewer delays. At its core, this standard would permit new groups to form after drafting a one page description of their proposed missions and expected programming, with a brief addendum to explain how officers will be elected. Within three business days, the Office of Student Development would decide whether or not the organization is egregious to the Catholic faith or the Jesuit order and return a response to the group’s founders. If the organization’s undertaking is at odds to the Catholic faith, the group could be further considered for approval if for no other reason than it being “educational.”
For current student organizations, I propose an end to the draconian practice of needing the blessing of OSD for every piece of literature. What is the very worst that can happen from eliminating the procedure of prior approval for literature and flyers? I would imagine an occasional curse word, perhaps an inappropriate picture or even an idea that someone disagrees with. As a matter of disclosure, I do not condone the use of swearing, inappropriate pictures or socialism. Doubtless, there would be juvenile members of the community that would abuse their freedom and they are to be marginalized, disciplined and prayed for.
This proposal allows Marquette students to more freely choose how to make the most of their years on campus. If a student or an organization runs afoul of the bounds of decency, proper punishment(s) could still be administered by university officials.
“But how does Marquette preserve its Catholic identity?”
I believe that a Catholic university should fervently celebrate its faith at every opportunity while bringing in speakers and hosting events that do the same. If non-Catholics do not share in this enthusiasm, they are still very welcome at Marquette and are free to choose not to attend any program where the virtues of Catholicism are presented.
On the whole, for this entire suggestion to work, it requires the collective trust of the Marquette community, and the belief that their students and peers are mature enough to handle the responsibility of their own actions. It is possible for reasonable people to disagree with the ideas suggested within this article, but, if nothing else, the money saved by needing fewer administrators could be used to resurrect the Raynor Scholarship.
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