Although some students complained last semester that University President Bryce Jordan's mind remains closed even when his doors are open, the president's efforts to create a forum for students to voice their concerns are a step in the right direction.

Jordan has been holding periodic meetings in the Alumni Lounge of Old Main, from 4 to 5 p.m. All students are welcome, and the meetings are publicized in advance.

Opportunities to personalize issue-oriented problems are rare. Yet many students avoid meeting with Jordan either because they are apathetic, bashful or complain of lack of time. Others doubt his sincerity. Last fall's meetings were poorly attended.

But students cannot accurately accuse the administration of inaccessibility if they do not try to improve communication between the administration and students.

The meetings' roots lie in last spring's student protest, when 88 arrests hinged on a lack of contact and conversation between students and administrators. Consequently, many questions Jordan has faced in these meetings pertain to issues raised during the protest, including racism, sexism and homophobia. But in addition to such major topics, a university president must address the seemingly mundane but truly important everyday questions of all students.

In this light, an ideal student-president meeting would juxtapose all complaints, from parking tickets to protests, in an environment where students would be unafraid to approach Jordan to air their concerns.

But the meetings are only a start. A true commitment to the student population begins with communication, but is fleshed out in the middle with actions.

Once Jordan meets with students and hears their concerns, it is up to him to follow up on them. Now that more communication is possible, actions can be better tempered by awareness of what University Park students want and need.