When some students and faculty members were upset about the Chippewa River bank stabilization project brought forward by the administration near the end of last semester, they did anything but let their feelings go unnoticed.

Nine university professors initially submitted a letter to Chancellor Donald Mash seeking information for the river bank project and a public hearing about the issue.

A meeting was then held with project officials that outlined the project. As the university community learned more about the proposed assignment, some grew weary of the necessity and/or its side effects.

The Student Senate passed a resolution voicing concern about the lack of communication between university administration and students.

“This is a huge shared governance issue,” Senate Vice President Kelly Witkowski said last April. “I think the administration does notice when we take stances on issues like this.”

In June, the DNR required the university to post public notice of the plans. The DNR then received comments from citizens and faculty. Two of the letters it received met criteria calling for a public hearing, which will take place in the next couple of months.

Had the university been more forthcoming with its plans last year, the project may well have been completed during the summer. But because it did not, the administration set itself up for a situation like this.

Concerned faculty, students and community members had every right to be upset about the university’s handling of the situation. Some people might even be in favor of the project, but wouldn’t be able to make a sound judgment because of the lack of information.

But now, thanks much in part to people who wouldn’t allow the university administration to tell them what was going to happen, the upcoming public hearing will help determine the fate of the project.