By KYLE PRATT
Opinion Editor
Saint Rose President Carolyn Stefanco is scheduled to teach a business class in the Fall 2017 semester. The topic of her class, Women in Leadership, is incredibly important at this point in history, where women face degradation from neighbors, corporations and even the President of the United States.
Women of the past have paved the way for the women of today to be leaders in business, politics, and social action. Last year we saw a woman become the presidential nominee of a major party for the first time. In January, millions of women, and men, marched in the streets in Washington, D.C. and across the country.
With healthcare in jeopardy, and Planned Parenthood on the chopping block, female leaders are stepping up. A woman in power herself, Stefanco is in a unique position to teach such a class.
The move is also good for student engagement.
In December of 2015, I wrote a column for the Chronicle entitled “The People v. Carolyn J. Stefanco.” The article centered on what I viewed as a lack of openness that surrounded our president, and is currently the 17th most viewed article on the Chronicle’s website with 662 views.
My goal when writing, other than to share my opinion, was to see a change in the way Saint Rose’s administration, including President Stefanco, engaged its students.
Now, it seems such a change is beginning to take place, though I’m sure I had nothing to do with it.
The 300-level class seems to be the latest step in an effort by Stefanco to be more involved on campus. That December, I was concerned with the fact that I had never spoken to the president, and that she was usually surrounded by her staff. I wrote about other college presidents who greet their students in passing, and who I had personally met.
Since then, I have seen the president numerous times on campus, and even exchanged pleasantries.
These small actions help to foster a more welcoming college environment, where everyone knows each other, and where students feel comfortable, even when talking to the president.
Even as someone who has never taken a business class, I greatly appreciate Stefanco’s effort. I have often been a vocal critic of the administration, but good actions cannot go unnoticed, and the teaching of this class is definitely a good action.
I only hope to see this trend of accessibility move forward toward with more classes and more conversations. The past couple of years have been difficult for the College, leading to a lack of communication, or a gap, between the administration and the rest of the College population.
This gap seems to be closing, which can only be good. An administation and a campus community in harmony.
