Recently, it was announced that Dean of Students Susan Lantz is no longer able to fill her role due to her current health condition. The University hired a new Provost, and BSG’s VP of Finance resigned from his position. At the University, there is a substantial emphasis put on groups and team building—there are a plethora of committees, courses, and initiatives in place to not only strengthen communities within the administration, faculty, and staff, but also for students. The fact that Associate Dean of Students Amy Badal, someone already positively associated with the community, was named to take on the Dean of Students role, merely further drives home the University’s emphasis on community.

This emphasis on groups, however, can conceal the importance of individuals on campus. We somewhat understand what the University administration and governing student groups do as collective groups, but we do not necessarily understand the importance of what each individual does for the University. All of these recent vacancies as well as new hires, however, have such large implications on the campus as a whole; large-scale effects often not associated with changes made on the individual level that prove how each individual plays such a crucial role at all levels.

Pertaining to the changes in the administration, it is integral to consider how much research and preparation goes into every policy even considered, every statement released, and every decision made—whether large or small. The constant slew of changes, amendments, and new initiatives take quite a bit of preparation and usually involve groups and committees working to piece them together and push them through. Each of these that have such a profound effect on the lives of everyone on campus, however, starts with one individual.

It is also important, however, to truly gauge the impact one student can have on the University. Although this is evident in terms of the former VP of Finance’s resignation, it can also be found in terms of all students. One student beginning an initiative, lobbying for change, or even just drawing attention to a problem is enough to impose quite a bit of change on campus.

It is unfortunate that it took a resignation of a BSG VP, the ill health of Dean Lantz, and a new Provost announcement to really draw attention to the power of the individual on campus. However, we can only hope that this increased attention will lead students to not only truly appreciate the effects of the individuals in positions within the administration, faculty, and staff, but also recognize their personal power to have a large influence on their campus.