Yesterday afternoon, approximately 10 students gathered around
television screens at Wackadoo’s to watch Secretary of Homeland
Security, Tom Ridge’s town hall meeting, located just yards away in
the Busch Student Center Multi-Purpose Room.
Freshman Tracy Fitzsimmons sipped on soda while listening to the
secretary’s comments. “I think it’s kind of cool … I don’t know
much about politics, though,” she said.
Despite the freshman’s limited political knowledge, Fitzsimmons
said she would have taken advantage of the opportunity to be among
the town hall audience, instead of the Wackadoo’s viewing crew. “I
think we (students) should have been more informed and we should
have been able to go,” Fitzsimmons said.
Sophomore Jordan Koene agreed. “If he wants to talk to St.
Louis, he can go to the Salus Center, but if he wants to come to
the student union, he can address the students,” Koene said.
Maria Hein, BSC’s building director, said several places,
including Wackadoo’s, The Office of Student Life and the Student
Government Association’s Senate Chambers were available for
students to watch the televised event. A sign located in the lobby
of the BSC advertised these venues. But senior Angela AuBuchon, a
commuter student, said the viewing locations were sub par. The
Office of Student Life had the audio feed but no picture, and the
Senate Chambers’ lights were off, and doors were locked.
“It just irritates me that the administration didn’t even
provide a place for students to watch [the address] except
Wackadoo’s, where you have to buy something.” AuBuschon said.
When asked about these circumstances concerning the town hall
meeting, Hein said, “That must have been an oversight.”
Despite AuBuschon’s frustrations with the lack of viewing
accessibility for students, she felt that the secretary’s
appearance at Saint Louis University spoke well of SLU.
“I think it reflects very well on the school and the school’s
administration. It shows they’re trying to make the school more
involved in national affairs and current events,” AuBushon
said.
