“Talk Times with your AS President” were almost silent as Western senior Matt Jarrell, Western’s Associated Students president, stood alone for three of four student talk sessions this week.

The “Talk Times” sessions is a series of eight public forums in which students can discuss their campus questions and concerns with Jarrell. Each session begins at 4 p.m. and is designated to focus on students from each college on campus, though students are welcome and encouraged to come to any of the sessions regardless of their major.

Four of the eight sessions have been held, but students have only attended the latest session, held Thursday in Bond Hall. Three student employees from the AS were the only students present, as well as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Catherine Riordan.  

Kevin Majkut, Jarrell’s adviser for the AS, said this was the first time an AS president has reached out to students with sessions to personally listen to them.

“I was just excited to hear what students had to say—I still am,” Jarrell said. “I want to give students an opportunity to talk to me where I can gather student values and identify their challenges,” Jarrell said.

Jarrell said he feels knowing what students care about most is the best way for him to truly represent them.

Jarrell said the “Talk Times” sessions were inspired by the listening sessions held by Western President Bruce Shepard last year.

Jarrell said he is not sure why more students have not come to the listening sessions. One reason he suggested is that nothing important or controversial has happened on campus yet, so students may feel they have nothing to talk with him about.

Western junior Celeste Luna said she would not attend any of the sessions because she would not know what to talk about. Luna also said she did not know much about what Jarrell or the AS does.

“If people don’t know what’s going on no one’s going to care, no one’s going to show up,” Luna said.

Western senior Heather McKesson agreed with Luna.

“A lot of people probably don’t know what it is,” McKesson said. "Talk Times could be about anything.”

McKesson also said she knew the AS government represented the voice of the students to the faculty, but did not know anything else about what the AS does.

Jarrell said his experience with “Talk Times” has taught him a lot about structuring outreach programs for students. He is planning to hold a panel discussion for students during winter quarter.

But this time, while the panel will be open to all students, Jarrell said he will also send out personal invitations to student leaders on campus, such as other AS employees, resident advisers and lifestyle advisers.

Provost Riordan, who has had past experience participating in student outreach programs, said she empathized with Jarrell and said sending students invitations would be a great way to draw more student interest to the listening sessions.

“Sometimes if [the students] have a role they’ll come and they’ll tell their friends to come,” Riordan said. “They’ll be more likely to promote it.”

Jarrell said he wants the panel discussion to include university administrators, such as Shepard and Riordan, as well as students.

Including administrators in the discussion would appeal to some students like Western sophomore Evan Crane, who said he would be more inclined to attend a listening session if there were more than just students involved.

Western freshman Drew Landram suggested it may be too early in the year for students to be interested in the listening sessions. As a freshman, Landram said he did not know enough about what was going on around campus to go.

Jarrell said he also plans to make greater use of Viking Village, Western’s online forum, and plans to attend club meetings on campus to find out what is important to students. He will also be attending hall council meetings in the residence halls in November.

“If they don’t come to me then I’ll just have to go to them,” Jarrell said.

Majkut said he supports Jarrell’s idea to gather information directly from the source—the students.

“I think it’s worthwhile for Matt to continue to try to reach out to students in different ways,” Majkut said.

Jarrell said he is not sure what students would come to talk with him about. He suggested that they may be worried about tuition, the Bellingham waterfront or GURs.

While some students are uninterested in talking with Jarrell, Western sophomore Troy Brunner said if he knew more about the sessions he might be interested in going to voice his concern about professors on campus.

“I’ve heard a lot of complaints about teachers who just don’t know how to teach,” Brunner said.

Though few students have shown up for the first week of “Talk Times,” Jarrell said he will keep reaching out to students.

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