I feel like I am in the waning minority still believing that the UD student body is capable and willing to express their opinions.

  Forgive the old cliche, but "What we got here is a failure to communicate."

What am I talking about? The disconnect between the administration and students that has been steadily growing for longer than I have been a student here. Being fair, both sides share the responsibility of mending the relationship-it won't be easy, but it needs to be done.

We live in a world of instant communication, Web collaboration and social networking. Why then, do students find out about most "hot issues" from rumors and other non-official sources?

  The administration has a responsibility to notify and communicate with students effectively. They have already done a very good job with the emergency notification system, and now the next step needs to be taken.

Everyone has heard a horror story of Greek problems, locked Ghetto basements and house decorations. During the events I just mentioned it would be an understatement to say that the administration could have done a better job communicating. Can't a clear policy and reasoning be put up before public (student) comment, availible to all, before it takes effect?

The university should solicit student input. We use Lotus Domino/Notes for student e-mail, with mailbox sizes adequate for the year 2001 and an informal poll showing at least 80 percent student disapproval of the selection. Other universities have chosen gmail; Google provides it for free to universities, with massive mailboxes, seamless iPhone/Blackberry compatibility and a much better user experience. It took how long to stop forcing Tangents on students, overpriced, sub-standard laptops which also endured glaring disapproval?

Students-don't think that we can escape without blame. Something is seriously wrong when the opinions editor of our Flyer News needs to beg for letters to the editor, and can't even fill her own column with something she didn't write.

You (or your parents) are footing the bill for college, and you damn well better be comfortable voicing your opinion on your education and your university. Write about it, talk about it, blog about it, whatever. There's no excuse, vacations, finals coming up, anything for being complacent.

Don't mind the means, but many in the student body are silent with their opinions. It's one thing to talk about them in class, but you need to share them with the people in charge.

It would take what, five or 10 minutes to fire off an e-mail to Sister Annette (or whoever else would be appropriate) with your thoughts on whatever you feel needs to change? I remember seeing somewhere that she loves visitors on her porch, maybe more students showing up and respectfully sharing their thoughts could help things.

Should you feel that your basement should be open, or you should be able to hang a banner with a sense of humor from your home, don't be silent. It's good for a few people in each class to say something, but I have a feeling that a common message will come across better in numbers. We have tunnel-vision, focusing on only two things-academics and partying.

What happened to student sitdowns in KU? At one time, not too long ago, students came together and confidently voiced their opinions.

Do we have nothing to unify us, or do we just choose not to unify and act?