EDITORIAL: Roscoe's achievements show dean of students position must be retained for good of university
While Central Michigan University is looking to add a new vice president of Enrollment and Student Services, it is important to retain the Dean of Students position and to fill it with someone as genuine as Bruce Roscoe, whose duties in the job end in June.
Roscoe, having served in the position for more than 16 years, has exemplified how important the position is to this university and its students.
For years, Roscoe has been an advocate for students and their organizations, and this newspaper is a prime example. Whenever CM Life has won awards, taken on an important issue or covered something crucial to campus, he has always been there to congratulate its staff.
As illustrated in a previous article, he has been integral in the development of student-oriented programs at CMU, including Sexual Aggression Services, the Centralis Scholarship, the Leadership Institute and the Volunteer Center, just to name a few.
CMU should not underestimate how important it is for this position to be filled even after the hiring of a new vice president. The Dean of Students is a person who students should be able to count on when they have a problem on campus. Like Roscoe, the dean must be there when students need his or her help, advice or counsel.
As Brittany Mouzarakis told CM Life, Roscoe was a constant supporter of the Student Government Association and praised them when programs such as the new pro bono clinic were created.
This type of support is imperative for the success of students and their organizations. If they are not supported by the administration, they could be disillusioned with what they can do on campus.
The programs Roscoe helped bring to life have been consistently successful because of the support they have received over the years. Roscoe has said the Volunteer Center has reached out past the boundaries of CMU's campus and into the surrounding communities to make a difference.
If not for support from Roscoe and others at CMU, the program might not have been successful, but instead it is making a legitimate impact on the Mount Pleasant community.
June 30 is not far off and finding a replacement for Roscoe should be very near the top of the to-do list. Students need an administrator that will stick up for them and their needs and, while there can never be a true replacement for Roscoe, CMU should do its best to make sure it hires someone who will advocate for students in a way no one else has.
