Hello community,
I'm hoping that everyone has read Glenn's email before reading this one. (If not, I highly encourage everyone to do so! He's no Nicholas Sparks but it's still good....lol...kidding, Glenn).
He and Don both raise important questions. I personally am drawn to the question Glenn asks: "Do we meet the needs of the University, College and Department but are not basing this entirely on their influences?"
I wish we could only worry about meeting our own community needs but to exist in the university, we must follow what they require of us. And when Glenn came on, 75-100 community members was necessary for our continued existence. Luckily for us, we've reached that. And now we find ourselves asking, "Is it possible to be TOO big?" and "Would Bailey still be Bailey with 150+ community members?" and even "Would I want to be a part of Bailey if it grew that big?"
The first thing that I need to realize for myself is this: everything is relative. Whatever decisions are made in BCC and in the community, they will not please everyone. This saddens me so much....to think that some people would choose not to be part of a community that grew larger. But it also saddens me to think that we would ever NOT let someone become a member of Bailey if they truly wished to.
All I know is that I personally do not have all the answers. None of us do. But part of the perks of being in a community is that we can discuss with passion (rather than argue with raised voices) finding those answers together. Again, we must keep in mind that not everyone will agree but a consensus needs to be reached (in my opinion) so that Bailey can know which direction it now travels: one of unlimited growth or one of controlled sustainability or something completely different.
I encourage....beg......urge everyone with a voice and a thought about any of these questions to speak so that as a community we can forge the path Bailey will take in its next 10 years.
Please join the dialogue. In addition to sending this email, I'm posting a new thread on ThinkBailey.com where we can discuss. Also, PLEASE remember that BCC meets every Monday at 6pm in the Bailey space. We'd love to fill every chair in the room with impassioned Baileyites.
Peace and love for ALL Bailey members,
Dustin Petty
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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4 comments:
I Think that it is instilled within the average student to excell. To always be on the pathway to bigger and better things. But it is important to us as a community to now step back and define what these bigger and better things may be. Perhaps it is important to think critically about how one feels as a bailey scholar is his/her's ability to continue on their learning journey. I remember when i noticed the difference between when i first learned about BSP and transitioned to why I am in BSP.
Not everyone will always feel the same and that is a good thing. But what really stood out to me was the fact that i was surrounded by individuals who cared and were passionate about the idea of "learning".
Learning,as we know, is not limited to "MTH ***" in wells hall test every Friday" but realizing how much more there is to learn. From how to cook to Quantum physics. What matters to me is to see individuals committed to the Bailey Scholars Program and not just for an add on to a resume.
(Please give me feedback if i am not clear or even if you disagree i am just interested in the "Charge" of the Community)
I have seen Bailey small (15 people) and large (80 people). What concerns me at this moment in time is if our size has created different wants and needs in the community. I would think that there would be tons of activities happening, book circles, share nights. And I am saddened to see that this has not happened yet this semester. I am concerned that there has been no real community building activities. Does anyone else feel this way? What can we do to change that?
Someone tell me if i am totally wrong but....have some mandatory events. Team building exercises work well. But it does take engagement and effort from everyone, INCLUDING myself. (something am working on)
I think the most important thing here isn't necessarily the numbers, but the quality of Bailey. I think the concern would be, that if the group got bigger there wouldn't be the same intimacy that we have now and the Bailey dynamic would change.
Jon and Ashlee both bring up good points, in that people will decide about Bailey for themselves, and to be honest we don't do tons of Bailey scholars events. My thing about it is, you can be as involved in Bailey as you like. Last semester I didn't go to anything besides my ANR 210. Now I branch out more, but at the same time am in what I like to call, a constant state of stress. Offering more options would be great if enough people would be able to go to them! Movie nights, book circles are all great ideas!
So, the numbers. I don't think expansion is bad, but I do think we need to be careful about the way in which we do it. Perhalps having potential students sit in on 210 classes? I would hate to say, we don't want any more people. But I would also hate to see Bailey loose its intimacy. That's my two cents
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