Student Association members were out in full force in Kogan Plaza on Thursday, trying to learn what issues students were having with both academic and everyday life at GW.
The event was the first in a series of events called "Flag Your Problem" that the SA plans to host in the coming months. Students were invited to write down their gripes on pieces of paper or "flags." The flags were then hung on string around Kogan Plaza in an attempt to visually highlight not only student grievances but also that the Student Association was listening to them.
Dan Curran, chief of staff to SA President Julie Bindelglass, said in an e-mail a little less than 140 students participated in the event. Curran also said the SA would be creating a report on what sort of issues were brought up so as to better gauge student reaction.
The event on Thursday came in the wake of criticism of Bindelglass' administration and the SA as a whole for not significantly improving communication with the student body - something promised during last spring's campaigns.
Bindelglass was present on Thursday and said she felt good about the event's turnout.
"This is one of the ways the Student Association can be most effective," she said.
She also noted that it was important for the SA to be proactive in reaching out to students in order to get their opinions and feedback.
"Most people won't come to office hours. They won't fill out a form or a survey or come to you with a problem. So we're in Kogan going up to people and saying 'What's your issue? What do you want to see us working on? How can we make your life better?' "
SA officials were not shy about talking to people walking through Kogan during the event. Most of the students who participated in making flags were brought over to the flag-making table by SA representatives.
The issues varied widely from common complaints to the relatively obscure. Frequent student complaints, such as the University alcohol policies, dining options, the quality of the Student Health Services and a perceived lack of school spirit, were all flagged. Less common concerns were also present, such as a lack of GW rugby merchandise in the GW Bookstore and no free, non-latex condoms.
"We have football shirts in the bookstore but not rugby shirts and we actually have a rugby team," Bindelglass said. "That was one concern I hadn't heard before, but it's very specific and it's very easy for us to go to the bookstore and say, 'Hey, can you help us out with this?' "
Criticism of the SA itself could also been seen, including one flag which said "Stop being so serious." Nevertheless, students seemed to appreciate the newfound effort on the part of the SA to get more in touch with their concerns.
"I think the event's a good idea and I'm glad they're doing it," said Arthur Glickstein, a freshman in the Elliott School. "I guess we'll have to wait and see how many of the changes they're actually able to make."
