2008 Woodie Awards
Staff Editorial
A New Smith Must: Cutting Red Tape
Issue date: 4/20/06 Section: Opinions
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SmiTHrift has been in the works since the fall of 2004. Student founders have been working closely with the Women & Financial Independence program since its inception. They've tracked down the right people to talk to, sold their idea, filled out the forms and not surprisingly gained support across campus to start their on-campus thrift store. SmiTHrift's recent spring sale was a great success. Why, then, is it so challenging and seemingly impossible for SmiTHrift organizers to secure a space on campus? We call it good old-fashioned Smith College Red Tape. The various offices where students are often made to jump through an intricate series of hoops seem to be extra worried about Smith students' great ideas fizzling out as of late. Perhaps this is the reason why even the smallest, most mundane steps one must take in order to accomplish any sort of planning on campus become a lengthy hassle.
Understandably, Smith does not want to have a campus full of half-finished projects and would-be great ideas, but when students are obviously dedicated and willing to put forth the effort to see their project succeed, whatever it may be, why is all the red tape and hoop-jumping necessary? Recently it's hard not to notice how difficult it is to even reserve a room in our Campus Center. Who really knows what days they'll want to reserve space for meetings months and months in advance? Don't forget the excessive forms and steps involved in party planning. Oh, party planning. We won't even go there.
While all the red tape must be justifiable on some level by the administration, when well-prepared, dedicated students show a desire to start an organization requiring space on campus that will not only foster a learning environment, but also ultimately give back to the community, no bureaucracy should stand in their way. We've probably all come to terms with the fact that Smith will always over-protect our party scene and that we'll be doomed to spending tireless sittings in the Campus Center filling out form after form for whatever goal it is that we're trying to accomplish. We'll probably graduate before we're 100 percent okay with that, but telling students that there's no room on campus for a thrift store, which would be a marvelous success on a campus like Smith, is just not okay. Cut the red tape, Smith College.
The Staff Editorial represents the collective views of the Editorial Board of the Smith College Sophian, not the views of the entire staff of the Sophian, nor the views of the administration, faculty, staff, or students of the College. Each week, the authorship of this column alternates between members of the Editorial Board.
Understandably, Smith does not want to have a campus full of half-finished projects and would-be great ideas, but when students are obviously dedicated and willing to put forth the effort to see their project succeed, whatever it may be, why is all the red tape and hoop-jumping necessary? Recently it's hard not to notice how difficult it is to even reserve a room in our Campus Center. Who really knows what days they'll want to reserve space for meetings months and months in advance? Don't forget the excessive forms and steps involved in party planning. Oh, party planning. We won't even go there.
While all the red tape must be justifiable on some level by the administration, when well-prepared, dedicated students show a desire to start an organization requiring space on campus that will not only foster a learning environment, but also ultimately give back to the community, no bureaucracy should stand in their way. We've probably all come to terms with the fact that Smith will always over-protect our party scene and that we'll be doomed to spending tireless sittings in the Campus Center filling out form after form for whatever goal it is that we're trying to accomplish. We'll probably graduate before we're 100 percent okay with that, but telling students that there's no room on campus for a thrift store, which would be a marvelous success on a campus like Smith, is just not okay. Cut the red tape, Smith College.
The Staff Editorial represents the collective views of the Editorial Board of the Smith College Sophian, not the views of the entire staff of the Sophian, nor the views of the administration, faculty, staff, or students of the College. Each week, the authorship of this column alternates between members of the Editorial Board.
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