Improving Bonner

As one of the Senior Interns for this year, I've noticed that a lot of the changes being made in Bonner take place at the administrative level. The only problem with this, however, is that real - and perhaps most importantly - sustainable change only occurs when the majority of a program becomes involved in the process. It's one thing for the Lead Team, Senior Interns, and Coordinator to specify and address certain issues, but I think it's necessary to take this system one step further and really engage all of Bonner in the decision making process. Unfortunately, there's one very problematic component of a "majority rules" and/or "all or nothing" philosophy: someone always feels left out, rejected, belittled, or discouraged when all is said and done. I know this outlook is perhaps a little too cynical, but sometimes that's the most efficient way to be realistic. However, if we are to better Stetson's program and continue moving it forward, the program itself (meaning those who compose it and run it) must be amenable to an intense amount of evaluation and critique. It's one thing for schools across the nation (or perhaps more appropriately, the NE)to say that Stetson's got it all figured out - it's another thing for us to live up to such a claim year after year. For example, we talk consistently about the importance of long-term, meaningful relationships with our community partners, but we tend to fall short when creating those relationships in our own program. How do we encourage such relationships without forcing friendships? How do we teach our Bonners about the importance of such communal relationships if they are not first taking place within our own Bonner family? Personally speaking, I don't know if these are "fixable" problems per se, but I do think they are problems deserving of the aforesaid (all encompassing) input from those who make Bonner the amazing program it is. Issues related to CLAs, relationships, cornerstone activities, and the like will not be resolved within the confines of a one hour meeting nor will they evaporate or disintegrate as a result of blissful ignorance and/or avoidance. Taking on the challenge of synthesizing everyone's view points is a taxing endeavor we must be willing to take on if our program is to maintain the enduring legacy of which I know it's capable.