Three years ago, a freshman Associated Student Government senator began researching how to make posting CTEC evaluations mandatory for all professors.
This year, that senator could see her work pay off.
After a back-and-forth revision process with the registrar, the bill titled “I Can’t Get No Evaluations” was voted on twice by ASG and twice more by faculty committees. The final hurdle in the process is the Northwestern Faculty Senate vote this May.
Jordan Fox, the main proponent of the bill since its inception, is now one of three candidates vying for the position of ASG academic vice president.
“My experience is what sets me apart, with the administration, with the whole process of how things go down,” said the Communication junior.
After her first term, Fox served as a nonsenator member of the Academic Committee for two more years. She has been the chairwoman of the CTEC/CAESAR subcommittee each year.
“It’s been a committee of one for three years,” Fox said, laughing.
Despite this, Fox was able to add a list of advisers and the “What If” degree progress feature to CAESAR.
“We’re at Northwestern,” Fox said. “We need to be able to make educated decisions about our own education.”
Fox said she views the academic vice president’s role as a working board member with the added organizational function.
“I don’t view the AVP as this one person that is governing all these people on his or her committee,” Fox said. “The AVP is a committee member who all the other committee members come to and report to.”
Fox said she plans to lobby the administration to allow students to seek double majors and minors within Northwestern’s specialized schools. Currently, students can only pursue a double major or minor in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences or within their own school.
Fox’s agenda also includes perennial ASG issues, such as a student advisory board for each school, early textbook listings, a full day off with more programming for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the restoration of a diversity program that ended last year.
Nyamisi Muindi, Fox’s campaign manager and a former ASG senator sitting on the Academic Committee, was impressed by Fox’s listening ability and knowledge.
“ASG is known for doing a lot of talking and not listening,” said Muindi, a McCormick junior.
After graduating, Fox said, she plans to pursue a doctorate in Speech and Language Pathology and Learning Disabilities and would like to work in a clinic or hospital. She is not planning a career in politics, she said.
“I’m not sure if I’m going to stay in politics unless it’s in a superintendent position for a school,” Fox said. “I have a passion for education.”
Reach Jake Spring at [email protected].
