Getting Political...
- Eduniz Mendez
- Apr 22, 2022
- 3 min read
Politics: competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government) (Merriam-Webster, n.d.).
When thinking about politics my mind often thinks of affiliated parties, contradiction, unethical practices, and large expenditures of money. When speaking about politics I usually think of debacles and contradictions amongst individuals. Very little do I refer to politics as ethical or a lawful practice, which is ironic because politics stems from legality. However, in student affairs I see politics reflecting ethical, moral, and legal practices. Institutions of higher education engage in self-governance, while being affected by federal, and local politics. Thus, politics affect our institutions academically, and socioeconomically. As I learned in my History of Higher Education course (HEA 616) politics can influence interactions amongst institutions and students, delineate campus governance, and influence campus services.
The socio-political effects of society trickle down to the work of student affairs educators as professionals and as individuals. Student affairs educators act as a liaison between students and the institution. Moreover, student affairs educators engage in institutional practices professionally when educating students and trying to uphold political practices, while grappling with their individual perspectives. Student affairs educators are informed by resources like the NASPA and ACPA Law, Governance, and Policy (LPG) competency (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). The LPG competency encourages student affairs professionals to understand, analyze, and engage with policy and structures of governance at their respective institutions (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). Resources like this one allow student affairs professionals to engage in political practices while being informed and knowledgeable with respect to their identities. I will depend on the LPG competency to engage effectively in higher education political practices, while staying true to my personal values.
Politics and legislation can be leveraged for good in many ways. For example, the City College of New York (CCNY) system was created by leveraging politics, to provide more accessible education to socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals in urban cities (The Graduate Center City College of New York, n.d.). CCNY allowed residents of New York’s five boroughs, who were predominantly individuals of color, to pursue a college education (The Graduate Center City College of New York, n.d.). Another example of how politics can be used for good is through policies like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) which allows many students to pursue higher education while deferring their possible removal from the United States (DACA, n.d.). Institutionally, politics can protect students while allowing them to express themselves through activism. Students are often supported by Title III, IV and VII, as well as their student handbooks or code of ethics/conduct.
As a student affairs educator, I aim to use politics to promote equity, support students, engage in campus governance and ensure quality resources for our students. I believe that politics can be used to leverage positive change. When professionals in higher education use politics to uplift themselves, it reflects negatively on the values of the institution. Using politics to leverage egotistical intentions through a passive aggressive or selfish lens takes away from the dialogue and efforts that help institutions effectively develop. Unfortunately, I have seen professionals do this. Thus, I can testify to how selfish hidden agendas lower morale for other professionals, discourages productive dialogue and promotes unhealthy conflict. I believe that student affairs professionals need to engage in politics through informed decision making, healthy conflict, dialogue, and transparency to leverage positive change.
References:
American College Personnel Association & National Association of Student Personnel
Consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA). USCIS. (2022, April 12).
Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://www.uscis.gov/DACA
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Politics definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 21,
2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politics
The Graduate Center City College of New York. (n.d.). 1847-1945 The First Century of Public
Higher Education in NYC. CUNY Digital History Archive. Retrieved November 6, 2021, from
https://cdha.cuny.edu/coverage/coverage/show/id/3.
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