Ashley Coker
Staff Writer
In an event called “Hear My Voice,” Bryan College students joined together today to express their concern for the school and their sorrow over their voices not being heard by the Board of Trustees over the past few months.
“Part of the reason why this has been so confusing is because basically the way the system works is that students, faculty, VPs even, all funnel their communication through Dr. Livesay to the Board and the Board can only funnel their communication through Dr. Livesay to us. That’s one man trying to communicate everyone’s interests and perspectives so there have obviously been some communication issues there,” Senior Allison Baker said.
“Part of that is that what the Board has been told is that students are being manipulated by faculty and staff to say what we’re saying. So that’s kind of what’s being told to them. . .they think ‘oh students are just being told what to say,’” she added.
She also noted that Hear My Voice is not at all affiliated with SGA and her involvement in the event is that of a concerned student.
The event was entirely student-led and faculty and staff were not aware that it would be taking place. This was to emphasize that the voice expressed was, in fact, that of the student body.
The event started early with student leaders stationed outside of Mercer to offer black armbands to students making their way to morning classes. Junior Robin Harrison said that the armbands were to represent unity as well as sorrow over how the student body had been misrepresented.
Armbands were also given out after chapel.
During chapel, Harrison announced the events of the day and asked students to stand if they had concerns for the directions of the school and/or felt as though their voice had not been heard by leadership this semester.
Hundreds of students stood across the chapel.
There were sheets completely covering multiple tables in the Rhea County Room with the words “Hear My Voice” printed on them. Students were able to put their handprint on with paint provided or trace their handprint in marker.
Two sheets of signed handprints filled up by 11 a.m..
In Common Grounds, there was a station where students were able to write their concerns and opinions on cards and put them on a wall.
One of these cards read, “As a student leader, it breaks my heart that the student body feels so unheard. PLEASE HEAR US. We believe you can turn this around.”
The cards will be sent to the Board.
There was another wall in Common Grounds featuring an article where President Livesay and Col. Haynes were quoted saying students were “happy” and the school was “solid.” This article was accompanied by a sign asking students if this was their voices, to which they could reply “yes” or “no.”
The “no” side quickly filled with signatures, while the “yes” acquired one signature.
Perhaps the most sobering aspect of the event was the “Goodbye Table” set up in Mercer with the pictures of all departing faculty, giving students the opportunity to write notes to those faculty members.
Students also had the opportunity to pose with “Hear My Voice” props for Instagram photos and were asked to change their profile pictures to a graphic promoting the event.
The hashtag “hearmyvoiceBC” was implemented across social media.
Senior Lily Cannon, another student leader behind the event, said, “If we were to all make two posts. . .that’s several hundred posts on social media. We’re just trying to flood the internet, flood social media and make our presence known.”
Students showed overwhelming positive regard for the event.
Sophomore Kazuki Fukunaga said, “Personally, this event has challenged me to choose my words carefully and be aware of other people’s voices.”
“Students are grieving, feeling the weight of the decision and doing their best to respond appropriately. . . .The students are taking this seriously. Administration should too,” said junior Jack Saunders.
