Our view: State of the University would improve relations

"He shall from time to time give to the Congress information on the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."

President Barack Obama fulfilled one of his executive duties as described in the Constitution on, Jan. 27, when he addressed the Senate, the House and the country in his first State of the Union. It's a time for citizens to hear what's going on in the country and what the President hopes to accomplish in the coming year. It's a time-honored, informative, worthwhile tradition. It's so worthwhile that we'd like to see our University presidents follow the trend and begin to address the school at-large in a yearly State of the University.

There are States of the City and States of the State, so why not States of the University? Once a year, students should get the opportunity to hear the goals, setbacks and successes the University experiences from the President. It's a good time for the administration to reach out to students. Often there is little discussion between the administration and students, and this would be a straightforward way to learn about the good, the bad and the ugly of our University.

As a new regime begins to step into the leadership role in the next year, it is a good time to begin this new tradition of communication. If the Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Governors choose Provost Troy Paino as the next University President, Paino would be the perfect president to begin the tradition. His public speaking skills and his recent election would offer a great opportunity for students to put a face on the office of the President and to listen to an eloquent description of the state of our school.

Like the State of the Union, there would be enough coverage with Truman's student media outlets that the State of the University would reach most students. Although not all students will show up to see the President's speech, the campus media coverage later would fill students in on the highlights. It would be a way for the University administrators to get their intentions out to a larger audience. Alumni, parents and community members are likely to watch as well, building publicity for the school.

Most importantly, it is a way for the University to usher in a new era of discussion among community members. The recent forum with Paino is only the beginning. Administrators work to serve the interests of students, so they should make themselves available to inform the University and foster interest among students, faculty and staff. Students no longer can say they aren't well-enough informed on University issues, and administration can't say the University at-large won't listen.

The Constitution of the United States intended the State of the Union to be a platform to talk about what is going right and wrong. The University is quickly approaching times when budgets will be cut, jobs will be lost and the reputation of the University could be at stake. The State of the University speech is one way to bring the University together that won't cost any money or jobs and will only increase the prestige of the school. It would show that students and administrators take this institution and everything it stands for seriously.