For those of you who do not know, Provost Madeline Wake is scheduled to resign at the end of the calendar year. However, after talking with some of my peers, it became abundantly clear that concern should be placed on the fact that most students do not know the responsibilities that the provost holds.

According to the Marquette University Web site, the mission of the provost is defined as being responsible for academic affairs and institutional planning. This includes adjusting curriculums, approving new majors and minors, and overseeing the deans of all the colleges.

I think it is abundantly clear that the office of the provost has a direct effect on the students. Recently, MUSG passed a recommendation to the administration requesting that a student be put on the Provost Selection Committee. This request is by no means threatening to the administration, nor does it cause a stir amongst the student population. On the contrary, MUSG simply offered a suggestion on how they could receive direct student input when it comes to finding a new provost.

The response from the administration was minimal, citing that although there would be no student on the committee, students will be involved in the interview process, but that is not enough nor does it address my simple question of "How?" How does the administration plan to get student input when they will not let a student on the search committee?

The administration has yet to announce how students will be involved. It is sad to think that the administration is ignoring the students when the provost has a direct impact on how long it takes us to graduate, whether or not we can major in our passions, even what classes we will need to take next semester.

My next question to the administration is "Why not?" When Provost Wake came before the MUSG Senate on Oct. 25, she told MUSG that she ensures that there is always a current student and recent graduate on the search committees for new deans of academic colleges, so why not apply this same philosophy to finding Provost Wake's replacement? Why not prove that Marquette University is a place for students by allowing a student to take an active role in selecting decision makers for the university? Why not listen to us?

I really do believe that Marquette University is a great place for students to learn and grow, but I do not feel the university always respects student opinion. By preventing students from taking an active part in deciding whom the next provost will be the administration is sending the wrong message to the students. To me, this is the administration's way of ignoring students, the very people that it is supposed to work for. To me, this is the administration's way of turning a deaf ear to the students.