Well, it's been a couple weeks, and I can definitely say that reaction to my proposal at SGA has been decidedly mixed. Many people support what I am trying to do, and recognize that I only have the best interests of the University at heart. Everything that I'm pushing for is not going to affect me in any way. I plan to be long gone by the time that any of my proposals would come into force, as would many of those currently involved in SGA. I want this to be my legacy. I want to be the student who pushed Missouri State, perhaps kicking and screaming, into the 21st century. There are, however, those who seem not to share my vision of the future for our institution. Here's a response that I received to my previous post:
I hope your stupid little initiative fails miserably. You were doing so good in fighting Microsoft on campus until you did this. Maybe if your rich parents bought all the students a laptop like they bought yours then there wouldn't be an issue of students emptying what little was left in their checking accounts to buy a computer just so they can get a college education at MSU. Go f*$# an iPod and leave us BROKE students alone.
All I've got to say to this person is that they definitely don't know me, who I am, if they can say these things. I understand that the program I'm proposing could impose financial hardships on some students, and its something that I try to address in the resolution by calling for the establishment of a fund to aid those who need assistance. I also believe that there are plenty of opportunities for the institution to leverage its numbers and buying power to ensure that students are receiving the best deal possible on hardware and software. There are numerous opportunities for corporate sponsorship and partnerships as well. The fact of the matter is, simply, that MSU's current technological regime is simply not doing what is necessary to prepare students for the future, whether that be in the job market, or further post-bac education given todays technology trends. That is what my resolution hopes to address, but if my detractors have a better plan, bring it on. A committee is being formed to examine the issues raised by my resolution. We'll probably begin meeting the week after Thanksgiving. If you're interested, please contact me or Rob Martin for more information. I look forward to working toward a solution that benefits the entire community, but, for some, that solution might be painful. Change often is.
Posted by Brooks Travis | 
