Author: Patrick McCredie
Since my arrival, Occidental has maintained a state of turbulent stability. Though such a characterization may seem paradoxical, it is no less true. In the past four years, this institution has witnessed the departure of four presidents, major administrative restructuring, the dissolution and reconstitution of ASOC Senate, and most recently, significant losses to its endowment. Yet amidst this tumult, there exists an equally powerful counter-force at Occidental. Oxy’s history is rich and reflective of the values it holds today, its faculty is distinguished in both achievement and service, and its students are bright, worldly and firmly committed to the values of a liberal arts education. In this, Occidental has anchored against the tides of attrition, unrest, and circumstances beyond its borders. So while the school has changed dramatically in the past four years, it has retained far more. Invariably, these dual and oft contradictory forces have shaped my experience at Occidental. And it is with this dynamic in mind that I leave some parting thoughts for Oxy to ponder.
Firstly, Occidental must commit itself to a strategic review of every major department on campus. In my dealings with departments from Campus Dining to Residence Life, I have observed a frequent and pervasive trend afflicting the Oxy bureaucracy. All too often, each group exists in isolation from one another. Over time, these entities have formulated processes without consultation from students, faculty, or departmental counterparts affected by its policy. Accordingly, these services have become disjointed, inflexible, and largely disconnected from the changing needs of varied campus constituencies. To be sure, I do believe the Oxy bureaucracy works sufficiently well insofar as service provision and basic competency is concerned. Yet for Occidental to excel, it must reevaluate and streamline its departmental apparatus through improved intercommunication with relevant constituencies, reassessment of internal operations, and finally, enhanced collaboration between all departments. In doing so, Occidental not only achieves greater institutional efficiency and flexibility, but through these efforts the school mitigates many sources of current tumult on campus.
Secondly, incoming President Jonathan Veitch must commence with a thoughtful campaign to rearticulate Oxy’s vision and exploit its untapped potential. Though Oxy possesses many laudable qualities, the school has yet to effectively disseminate them to the national and international community. Occidental is at once urban, multicultural, socially aware, and firmly committed to the advancement of minority students. However, these values have never been conveyed with the potency and clarity they deserve. Thus, this endeavor must be foremost in President-Elect Vietch’s agenda. It will be incumbent upon the new President to deliver a clear and compelling vision of Occidental to the nation and the world. For a school of our standing and promise, I believe Oxy deserves nothing less.
Coupled to this vision, President-Elect Veitch must capitalize on Oxy’s underutilized resources, namely our urban locale and Barack Obama. Firstly, Oxy’s unique position in Los Angeles sets it apart from countless other Liberal Arts institutions in the United States. Los Angeles is rich in its history and diversity. Yet equally important, Los Angeles is a major urban center known throughout the world. Within the dual context of diversity and urbanity, Oxy must seek to define itself as not only as a liberal arts college in Los Angeles, but the liberal arts college of Los Angeles. In doing so, Occidental reaffirms its multicultural vision and distinguishes itself from the myriad Liberal Arts colleges surrounded only by fields and farmland. In addition, Barack Obama must figure more prominently in Oxy’s publicity efforts and institutional narrative. While enhanced publicity efforts may seem laughable given Oxy’s Obamania, the school has in fact not done enough to promote the Obama connection beyond the West coast. It would be wise for President-Elect Veitch to invest in an independent P.R. firm to systematically promote the Oxy-Obama connection. This visibility would result in greater institutional prestige and serve to underscore Oxy’s vision of multiculturalism and excellence.
In closing, I wish to reiterate that these observations are mine and mine alone. After only four years at Occidental, my knowledge of the school in both its strengths and weaknesses is cursory, unrefined, and often anecdotal. Thus, the prescriptions I advance are merely hints to ameliorate observed challenges and promote the many merits of Oxy. Yet I remain confident in my characterization of Oxy during the past four years. The experience had by graduating seniors was doubtless one of “turbulent stability.” While the school often endured changes in presidents, administrations, and policy, it remained loyal to its core values. In this, I am confident that Occidental will preserver. The question now is whether it will flourish.
Patrick McCredie is a senior Politics and History double major. He can be reached at pmccredie@oxy.edu.
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