As the school year comes to a close, The Scout staff is reflecting on the spring semester, noting what developments earned a thumbs up, thumbs middle or thumbs down.
Thumbs up: Sexual assault awareness initiatives
Every year, Bradley takes strides to show support for survivors during April, which is sexual assault awareness month. They are efforts worth applauding, particularly due to their consistency. BUPD continued their tradition of wearing teal patches, a Serve for Survivors pickleball tournament was held to raise money for the Center for Prevention of Abuse and the community was invited to a Take Back the Night event, where students, faculty, local organizations and advocates came together to share stories, promote resources and stand together against violence.
Thumbs up: Building community connections
A college campus cannot be an isolated establishment. It is where young adults go to build connections and advance their careers. By establishing pathways between three other schools this semester, Bradley recognizes the importance of community. Students are being provided with more postgraduate opportunities through Bradley’s new partnerships with DePaul University College of Law and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. On the other hand, Illinois Central College students now have a direct pathway to Bradley. These connections target a bigger issue: the university’s declining enrollment. With easier access to Bradley and opportunities beyond Bradley, the school becomes more appealing to a broad demographic of prospective students.
Thumbs middle: Celebration of history months
Historical months aren’t aesthetic marks on a calendar; they represent real struggles and dedicate a period of reflection to them. Bradley’s recognition of this hasn’t been clear, because few significant efforts were made to recognize Black history or uplift Black students on the university’s behalf. However, during Women’s History Month, Bradley expanded options for women interested in sports. If it was intended as a way to make up for missing the mark in February, it was a false equivalence. If March was just a convenient time to reveal a longstanding project, then the message becomes hollow. The inconsistent messaging of the past months leaves much to be desired. Bradley has both the resources and the willingness to turn struggles into motivation, but it’ll take more consistency to get the message across without confusion.
Thumbs middle: Incoming student senate
A few weeks ago, elections for the 2026-27 school year’s student senate officers concluded. More than 50% of the eligible student body voted, one of the highest turnouts in recent years. Despite this, nearly half of the campus is not using its voice, which is worrisome. Thankfully, the incoming officers seem sincere in their commitments to improving Bradley, but the still-limited interest in the election makes the college vulnerable to poor decision-makers in the future.
Thumbs down: Accessibility and safety outside
Student accessibility and safety should be a high priority not just for Bradley but for all college campuses. A major part of the issue here is the sidewalks, which often follow inconvenient paths, making navigating campus difficult at times. There are also several desired paths around campus near the BECC, where students are clearly walking between designated sidewalks. These paths are also being poorly maintained in harsh weather. Early this semester, when snow continued to fall, the sidewalks remained unplowed. Even days afterward, ice and mounds of snow remained, making it hard to navigate sidewalks, parking lots and crosswalks. It’s important to keep up with these issues on campus and continue to make improvements. Such a simple thing should not compromise accessibility and student safety.
Thumbs down: Phishing scams
Phishing scams became a prevalent issue at Bradley over two years ago, when a scammer sent an email that gave him access to compromising bank account information and, subsequently, to students’ refund checks. Since then, the university has taken steps to keep students aware of common phishing scams, but administrators can only do so much. The fact that these scams are still fooling students is problematic. Students must understand the signs of phishing scams and take measures to avoid them.
