Facts: On Wednesday at 6 p.m. the Chancellor will host a Student Forum on the Undergraduate Student Success Task Force White Papers. The five initiatives outlined by the task force are proactive academic advising, the first-year inquiry program, living and learning villages, high-impact educational practices and the first-year transition.

Opinion: Students need to come out to the forum to let their voice be heard by the University administration. They are taking time to hear what we have to say and we should take advantage of our chance to let them know what we think. We can make N.C. State a better experience for future students by expressing our grievances and feedback.

As students, what we think matters most. The voice of the student body should be echoing loudly overtop any decision made regarding University policy. Administrator’s ears should be left ringing with your thoughts and ideas.

After having issues previously with administrative forums not being as friendly to students’ schedules, there is the opportunity to attend an Undergraduate Strategic Plan forum this Wednesday. The administration has gone out of its way to arrange a time and a place for the thoughts of students to be heard and there is no excuse to not take advantage.

The forum will be addressing proactive academic advising, the first-year inquiry program, living and learning villages, high-impact educational practices and the first-year transition. That does not have to be all. This is a fine opportunity to bring concerns and comments about undergraduate affairs to the forefront of a discussion with the people who run the University.

Forums such as this should be a staple of your time here at N.C. State. The administration should be consistently concerned about what the student body thinks in regards to the day-to-day affairs of the University. The only way that is going to happen is if they give you an opportunity to be heard, that you show up and confidently address the issues that concern you.

You are paying to go to school here. In a very real way, you are a customer, and the product you are purchasing is an education. If there are features you want changed or new features that you want integrated into this product, you have to let the people who produce the product know.

There are a plethora of issues that could be addressed at a series of forums: financial aid, distance education, admissions, expansion of opportunities for undergraduate research or seminars that should be available to undergraduate students.

Student forums to discuss the way the University is run do not have to be one-shot deals to which no one shows up. When that happens, the message being sent to the administration is that no one cares. But we do care.

Changes are enacted by the people who show up. That has always been the case, and it shall remain so. Complaining about the way things are when you have been given the opportunity to be heard is not just unproductive; it is pointless and the way of cowards.

Show up, stand up and speak up. It is the only way you are going to be heard.