Commentary
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. All other material represents the opinion of the authors. Deadline for submissions is the 10th of every month.
The Metropolitan retains the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar and punctuation. Letters without a signature will not be printed. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of any department or college, the university, the state university system, the student body, or The Metropolitan.
Minnesota Campus Compact year in review 2005–2006
Metropolitan State University Student Fellow report
-- Chad Hendrix
My name is Chad Hendrix and I have been the student representative for Minnesota Campus Compact at Metropolitan State University for the past two years. This is my personal testimony of my growth as a Minnesota Campus Compact Student Fellow.
We often hear stories of successful people from the past. We hear about the struggle from nothing to something and how persistence and determination will somehow pay off in the end. This is why civic engagement is real to me.
My growth also needs to be tracked, so one day later generations can access my ideas as resources. The idea of leaving a legacy is as simple as sharing how much I have learned with just one other person. Knowledge is power, and the truth only lasts until it is proven wrong. This is the mind-set of "change agents" that choose to fight for community and unity.
My second year as a student representative has been oddly productive. I know traditionally that a year-long work plan style project needs to be followed. I chose a more active approach, building on where I finished off from last year, and will continue to work on until completed.
My new found passion for civic engagement has changed my original work plan into a mission that needs to be shared with other activists. The Center of Community Based Learning has led the way on our campus to establish a solid platform to launch this movement. Metropolitan State University’s Engaged Campus Initiative is the best way for me to actively develop my knowledge base and assess the social benefits of being engaged in our communities. I thank Sam Grant, community activist, for meeting with students and reminding us of the importance of building better bridges between campus and community.
I view the relationship between cultural diversity and civic engagement necessary to achieve real social change and social justice. This is why I took the whole year to work on establishing community contacts to start new engagement partnerships for our students on our campuses across the state. This focus on involvement with community and those that serve the community is the main reason civic engagement needs to be promoted by our students, faculty and staff at every place of higher education in the state of Minnesota.
In this report, I have listed several events and activities that I have been actively involved with, volunteered at or participated in. I now have connections established to help support and implement components of our Engaged Campus Initiative. One focus point is our Circle of Engaged Learning initiative.
Exposure is the key to our success. The concept for a cable access series is still in the works; preproduction meetings will begin in October 2006. The resources needed to make this vision a reality are being researched; a proposal which will be designed from the pre-production planning committee.
One plan for the program committee is to organize the presentations so we can include the opportunity for dialogue on our campus or across all the campuses system and statewide. Metropolitan State University will lead by example when it comes to our cultural diversity and to civic engagement and the relationships with our community partners.
The final aspect of engagement development needs to come from empowering students with the tools and resources to develop and implement more community-focused projects and programs. Simple town hall-style meetings are popular and can be easily held in any neighborhood.
The mixture of outreach and grassroots organizing with a splash of media exposure will call for a very exciting academic school year. I look forward to another year of supporting Minnesota Campus Compact and trust in their mission.
I will be looking for assistance to plan and organize meetings to recruit new student representatives for next year. My goal is four or more future “change agents” to start building new visions for Metropolitan State University. My new role on our campus as Student Senate President is to increase and create new opportunities where students will have an opportunity to make a difference.
During my first training session with Minnesota Campus Compact, my vision for Metropolitan State University was for us to be the mecca of cultural diversity and civic engagement in higher education—the time has come to put all the training to use.
I’d like to refer to something that I had learned when I became a Student Fellow, and that is authentic presence. The idea of being present has always stood out as being the most important element of civic engagement. To be an informed citizen, "change agent" or social activist, one must show up and be present. Then, when all others stay seated, that one must be righteous with their intentions so we know who will stand up. Empowerment is what creates the spark that develops the inner-strength for us to be successful. This whole framework of civic engagement can easily be connected to authentic presence.
This is why I am still here.
Thank you Minnesota Campus Compact for planting seeds in the hearts and minds of young adults and to remember to give back to the community as often as possible, to make sure civic engagement is a part of their academic and career plans in the future.
Events and Activities in Review:
| 
