Word: iops
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...IOP members have batted similar reforms around in the abstract for more than two years...
Recently many people have criticized Sen. David Pryor's decision to reconstitute the student leadership at the Institute of Politics (IOP). An opinion article in yesterday's edition of The Crimson described the Director of the Institute of Politics' move as "insultingly dismissive of student input." In my mind Pryor has made the right change at the IOP--he has chosen to make the Institute a place where all students can participate in the decision making process. Furthermore, he had little option but to take action without first consulting the students on the Student Advisory Committee...
Three issues in particular are essential to this discussion. First, Sen. Pryor's decision means there will be more, not less, student voice and involvement at the IOP. Democratic elections and the reconstitution of SAC were necessary moves in order to increase student involvement at the Institute. Secondly, the IOP Student Advisory Committee should accept this reconstitution as part of the ongoing movement to improve the Institute. Last year the IOP staff was restructured, and now it is time for the student leadership to go through the same process. Third, although the IOP has been compared to student organizations...
Implementing democratic elections is necessary in order for the IOP to reach as many students as possible. The IOP's mission is to inspire undergraduates to pursue careers in politics and public service, but the old system has caused student participation to plummet. The number of students attending meetings or events at the IOP has been steadily decreasing for the past five years. Because under the old system student leaders were chosen in an undemocratic and somewhat secretive process, many students were discouraged from taking part in the leadership of the IOP...
Three years ago a few SAC members suggested implementing democratic elections at the IOP, but SAC as a whole rejected the idea. Furthermore, many SAC members have rightly stated that we have spent much of the past year working to make the Institute more inclusive for Harvard's undergraduates. Unfortunately, during that time period the idea of democratic elections was never once considered...