Dan DaranciangUnquestionably, Chancellor Mark Wrighton is an important leader of the Washington University community, though his role in student life is slightly less formalized than his involvement in policy-making. Still, on any given day, he may be found nestled among students at Mallinckrodt, attending a theatrical production or participating in any of the other dozens of events offered daily at Wash. U.
The chancellor finds the participation of students in campus life to be incredibly valuable.
“There is a lot more to the lives of students than chemistry tests,” said Wrighton.
Looking around campus, it is clear that students agree. Fliers plastered around campus advertise opportunities to get involved in an incredibly diverse range of activities. Wrighton appreciates the variety in opportunities to participate, stating that students “have a large menu to choose from.” To the chancellor, the value of student activities is incalculable.
“I’ve walked through W.I.L.D,” he said, “but [the level of alcohol abuse] concerns all of us that care about our students.” He does believe, however, that many of Washington University’s yearly events add quality to student life.
“Every university.should have some kind of tradition,” he said, adding that, “we have Thurtene,” and, “events like Carnaval really strengthen the educational environment.”
The chancellor himself would love to be involved in more of these activities.
“The biggest constraint to being involved is time, and I’m sure the same is true for the students,” said Wrighton, noting, “I try to do some of everything every year.”
Of his own college experience, Wrighton recalled, “I was not a performer, not a participant in spectator events.” Today, he can often be found giving opening addresses or making cameo appearances in various student groups’ productions. Yet, Wrighton continues to enjoy the role of spectator. He noted, “Theatre productions I enjoy, but it has to be scheduled, because you can’t just walk in and walk out.” Thus, it is sometimes hard to fit such events into his busy days.
Still, the chancellor tries to attend as many events as possible. In fact, he remembers a time a few years ago when he had an event downtown on the same night as a student production. He and his wife, “went to the first half of the first performance and the second half to the second performance and in between [he] went to a dinner and gave a speech.”
Freshman Claire Kelly, who recently spotted Chancellor Wrighton in the crowd at a basketball game, appreciates the chancellor’s efforts to be a part of student life.
“It is great to see Chancellor Wrighton at various sports events cheering on the students and sharing his pride and support of the University,” said Kelly.
Of course, not all students have had the opportunity to meet the chancellor, or even spot him around campus. Freshman Samantha Schneider commented that she has “no clue what he does, and never see[s] him ever.” Some students don’t find this to be a problem.
“The director of ResLife and such don’t make themselves visible public faces,” said freshman Greg Edmiston. “On some level, student life isn’t really his responsibility, but it’s not clear whose it is.”
Junior Michael Samoszuk agreed. “I don’t know what his role should be. Should he be going to parties with students and interacting with them in that way?” Samoszuk suggested that the chancellor probably should “find out what [students] are interested in and get involved in student life that way.”
Wrighton actually enjoys interacting with students at this more personal level. He finds involvement in campus life a vital element of his role as chancellor.
“It’s important for me to be involved with the students because that’s what the place is all about – students,” he said. “If I didn’t get to know the students, people would say to me, ‘Well, what do you know?'”
To feel more connected to the student body, the chancellor tries to spend time at popular campus spots as often as he can. “Sometimes I come over [to Whispers], put my computer on and check my e-mail. I can do it here just as well as I can in my office,” he said. “I don’t want people to think I’m unapproachable.”
Whispers, in fact, is one of the chancellor’s favorite places on campus. He was part of the team that created the concept and is happy to see it “so regularly used” by members of the Wash. U. community.
Kelly, who recently saw the chancellor at Whispers, remarked that the sighting made her “realize he’s not some distant figure that we can’t approach.”
This is exactly what Wrighton wants students to understand.
“I think it is very important that people know they can contact me and if possible a response will come,” he said. “I read my own e-mail. I don’t think it’s fair for me to have a secret e-mail address.”
The chancellor encourages students to contact him if they are “doing something in a class [he could] help with.” He thinks it is important that “people get to know [him] as a person, not as some figurehead.”
Freshman Andrew Wong doesn’t find this relationship necessary. “If he has time to be my buddy,” said Wong, “then he’s probably neglecting some more important duties.”
The chancellor believes, however, that involvement in student life is indeed one of his duties – and it’s one that he enjoys.
“Student life is important and I need to be involved in what the students are moved by,” he said.
Wrighton tries to eat at Mallinckrodt as much as possible so that he can engage in conversation with current University students. “If I go over to Mallinckrodt and have lunch randomly, the people I sit down with will be pretty honest,” he said. “I usually ask what we can do to improve.”
The chancellor believes that such a setting is better than formal office hours. Indeed, Edmiston stated that he would not be scared to approach the chancellor if he saw him at a popular campus spot. Still, Edmiston feels “that most anything I would want to discuss would be too minor to bring up and should be directed toward someone more specific than the chancellor of the entire University system.”
For the chancellor, such interactions provide a great chance to “get to know some students well.” He also believes that “[he] can be a valuable resource” for the students on campus.
“Washington University is a great place made greater by the people that are here,” said Wrighton. “I am passionate about trying to build a better experience for our students…and frankly, [involvement with the students] is fun.”
If the chancellor had more time to spend around campus, he said he “would go to the main eating areas on the South 40 and the Village dining area.go to a performance by the students.[and] try to go to more public lectures.”
Overall, the chancellor noted, he has “a great situation at Washington University. [He] love[s] it here.” He stressed that students should take advantage of the opportunities that abound on campus and get involved. He explained that “intellectual maturation, emotional maturation, social maturation and learning to communicate” are what students should take from their college experience. Participation in campus life is also great preparation for life after college.
“It’s very important for students to somehow become engaged in the community,” said Wrighton. “Once you get through college you think the tests are over, but they’re just beginning. There are different tests.”