Mercer-Garrett speaking as SGA vice president.
Chris Mercer-Garrett|Courtesy
A student leader explains why he changed his mind about VWU.
When I first came to VWU, I felt this was a place I could grow. I had a great start in my freshman year of attending. However, that feeling has changed significantly since the start of my sophomore year.
There are many things the University needs to improve on institutionally. For example, the attendance policy is unreasonable in my opinion. I have seen many people come and go because they have to sacrifice their needs for a 1 hour and 15 minute lecture, where some professors utilize 30 minutes of that time going on personal rants.
Another issue is that some students are treated like children in response to others not being responsible enough to take care of their business in the classroom, finance office, etc. To say the university is striving for advancement, there is still a long way to go.
Staff and faculty accountability sucks! Again, there are great staff members but also there are some who care less. In the same breath, we suffer from that. I have had professors with incomplete syllabi and unclear explanations then attempt to justify their actions with bogus explanations.
There are staff and faculty members who are great and some who carry themselves as if they are above God and that is unacceptable.
I considered and made plans to transfer to other Universities for the Fall 2025 semester for better opportunities. That isn’t going to happen. Due to various factors, one being the college credit system which makes it difficult to transfer to other schools.
VWU can be much better than this. But collectively, are we willing to put in the work? That is the true question.
As someone who was recognized by the University as a student leader, I have felt that I have been quiet for too long, worrying about repercussions. The most difficult part of being a representative of the university is that you are expected to conduct yourself in a manner in which it portrays the institution in a positive light. Students are known on campus to have lost their jobs just simply for giving their lived experiences about issues that have come about and still are present. I would argue that I have a decent influence on campus, but to critique the institution comes with such risks. Sometimes I have questioned if the place I once put faith in is the same. This outlet isn’t to destroy the University. What I am asking is that administrators take time to meet with students on the ground, where we are, which isn’t in the Deford Manor or Shafer Room.
Chris is a sophomore studying Criminal Justice and Political Science. He was formerly SGA vice president.
Chris Mercer-Garrett|Courtesy
By Chris Mercer Garrett
