the numbers run in the millions<\/a>. At the same time, we\u2019ve seen money poured into non-essential upgrades like the Sugarloaf lot, while daily student needs such as renovated dorms, better food, more student input, and upgraded facilities remain unaddressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\nI asked six students, four from Chestnut Hill College and two from Holy Family University, the same question: If they had control of $10 million in their college’s budget, would they invest in education or athletics? All six chose education. Their reasoning was rooted in practicality and purpose: education, they said, is what we came here for.\u00a0Even student-athletes acknowledged that athletic pride doesn\u2019t equate to a diploma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All students interviewed also requested anonymity in order to feel comfortable to speak freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAthletics are important, but they don\u2019t get you a degree,\u201d one student remarked. \u201cWe need real tools for the real world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One student suggested using funds to expand academic advising and mental health services, while another wished for more collaborative, interdisciplinary programs that connect students from different majors. These aren\u2019t lofty ideas, they\u2019re practical, student-centered improvements. The common thread? Every student felt they should have more of a voice in how their college functions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This brings us to a recurring grievance: communication, or the lack thereof. Students often learn about major institutional decisions after they\u2019re finalized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like we\u2019re here to fill seats, not to help shape the experience,\u201d said one sophomore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others described how they found out about tuition hikes or policy changes through email blasts after decisions were made, rather than being consulted or involved beforehand.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the staff and faculty side, the conversation is more complex. One staff member, who requested anonymity, explained that these large-scale decisions are typically guided by long-term goals, input from trustees, and external consultants. Still, they acknowledged room for improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to do a better job at involving students,\u201d they said. \u201cStudent advisory councils could help create a bridge.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One professor echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that true progress involves including those most affected by change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStudents should be part of the conversation, especially when it\u2019s their money on the line,\u201d the professor said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Chestnut Hill College enters its second century, students hope the next 100 years look a little different: more collaborative, more transparent, and more focused on the voices of the students who walk these halls every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take graduation, for example. Once again, the ceremony will be held indoors due to heat concerns and the lack of a tent. While understandable from a logistical standpoint, it highlights a frustrating disconnect: the college can renovate an entrance, but can\u2019t provide the tent that would allow more families to celebrate this milestone with their graduates. It\u2019s a detail that stings, especially for seniors, but it also underscores a deeper issue of misplaced priorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, this isn\u2019t just about money. It\u2019s about power, purpose, and participation. If students are paying to be here, while faculty and staff are being paid, then it\u2019s worth asking: shouldn\u2019t the students have more of a say? We\u2019re not just passengers in this experience. We\u2019re the reason the experience exists in the first place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Matt Velez Chestnut Hill College is celebrating its 100th anniversary, a monumental milestone that reflects both tradition and transformation. Banners commemorating the centennial flap in the spring breeze, the newly renovated Sugarloaf entrance sparkles…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[26,9,12],"class_list":["post-1135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-chc","tag-news","tag-opinion"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":18,"label":"Opinion"}],"post_tag":[{"value":26,"label":"CHC"},{"value":9,"label":"News"},{"value":12,"label":"Opinion"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"The Griffin","author_link":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/?author=7"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":18,"name":"Opinion","slug":"opinion","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The opinion section.","parent":0,"count":19,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":18,"category_count":19,"category_description":"The opinion section.","cat_name":"Opinion","category_nicename":"opinion","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":26,"name":"CHC","slug":"chc","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":26,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":9,"name":"News","slug":"news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":9,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"Linked to the news catergory.","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":12,"name":"Opinion","slug":"opinion","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":12,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"Linked to the opinion category","parent":0,"count":22,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1135"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1139,"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135\/revisions\/1139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thechcgriffin.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}