Ah Ha!

Since I started at Goucher in 2007 I have been struggling with the beauraucrats in SAS and the CDO for various rights that should have been granted to me based on my status as an independent. I have argued with the Dean of Students to assist me with notifying Professors last Spring when I had a flare up of my chronic illness. I am currently fighting with the administration to be recognized as a Goucher II student so I may graduate on time. I have evidence and proof that I have been wronged and lied to. I have the testimonies of others that have gotten the same treatment. I have cried, threatened, begged and insisted that those in charge take my situations seriously.

This morning as I contemplated what this class means to me in my last semester at Goucher I realized how relevant it is. I have considered my struggles the past four years as frustrations and set backs but what I am really doing is fighting internal Goucher policies that are set to fit the average student, but not satisfactory for any student that may exist on the fringes. Kraft and Mazmanian talk about the same problems when it comes to environmental policy. They are emphasizing the struggle to affect changes when administrations have no vision or ability to budge from the norm. Slowly but surely I am getting what I want because I have never let down my persistence and that is how this class has presented the successful environmental policies. Policy and beauraucracy are the same no matter what the cause.

I wonder if my struggle for equal treatment at Goucher will have any impact on the administrators I see. Will they react in the same cold and calculated way when another non-traditional student asks for help? Have my stress and tears and migraines done anything to break policies and rules that discriminate? I'm sure these type of questions emerge when a non-profit gets a big break with the government regarding a valuable piece of environmental legislation. The little organization faces daunting tasks and huge insecurities as well. Will their lobbying stay relevant? Will the law make the right changes? etc. etc. etc...

Without thinking about it I have incorporated the values of this class and its readings into my own personal fight. It is evident by your tenacity surrounding the subject and the readings you share that there is hope in a cause bigger than all of us. If there is change happening in environmental policy through persistence and intelligence then any policy shift is possible. I am very thankful for my early morning epiphany and am super excited to continue learning about fighting the good fight..