The Virginia Informer

Opening the lines of communication

   Public Affairs Committee update

By Matt Pinsker, Staff Writer

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            Need another way to put in your two cents? Here’s your chance.

            Jhett Nelson, Secretary of Public Affairs, and his department have many exciting initiatives in the upcoming months which will really help the students of William and Mary. The key focus of these initiatives will be to open the lines of communication betweens students and the community.

            On Thursday, October 6, Williamsburg City Council members will be having lunch in the Market Place and students are encouraged to attend to voice their concerns about the community, as well as learn about upcoming events.   Two council members will be at these monthly lunches. The other dates are Friday, November 4 and Thursday December 1.

            Another way communication is being improved between area residents and the college is through a community newsletter. The newsletter will raise the profile of students, letting the community know of academic and philanthropic achievements coming from William and Mary. This will also open up the Student Assembly to the community, “so students are not an anonymous blob,” according to Nelson.  The first newsletter will go out by the end of October. The newsletter will be distributed through mailings and inserts in local newspapers.

            Students will also have the opportunity to be more active in the community. A website and newsletter are being constructed, a way for students to find out about public events to attend and be heard.  According to Nelson, an off-campus student housing project was rejected several years ago because vocal members of the community spoke out against it at a city council meeting, but no students knew about the meeting to voice their support. This initiative will help prevent this sort of thing from occurring again.

            While these are the main projects, Nelson is also working on a whole host of other issues such as more student oriented retail near campus, changing the three person housing rule, and making it easier for students to vote. To do this, Nelson expressed a “want, desire, and need the input of students.”   Jhett Nelson can be reached at jrnel2@wm.edu.

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