A student-written letter to the editor published last week recounted senior Tyler Iddon’s frustrations with Pitt-Johnstown priorities.

Iddon said that money is needlessly poured into campus projects to satisfy university officials, failing to consider student priorities.

However, Iddon’s letter represents more than a complaint list; it shows a lack of faith in a system that should provide a hearing.

Iddon may have sought out university officials or student representatives to air his concerns and have them carried to decision-makers.

Instead, he wrote of a frustration that some actions claim to improve student life quality are instead driving a wedge between students and university officials, further widening an existing communication gap.

University officials sometimes seem like a lofty governing entity instead of sympathetic people who students can reach.

This idea paints university officials as bad guys, but that’s not how they should be viewed on a college campus; students and university officials should work together in as much unison as possible.

However, university officials sometimes do not appear to be seeking much student input.

Let’s look back at the issue of security cameras being discovered in trees.

No single university official has taken responsibility for this idea. Student Affairs Vice President Shawn Brooks and one of three Student Government Association senators said they met to discuss the issue after Campus President Jem Spectar said cameras should not be instealled without student input.

At least with this issue, it seems most students feel the same way: their privacy may be invaded.

However, how representative of the entire student body would three student senators be? Should there be a more direct link between students and administrators?

The first step would be to make students feel comfortable approaching university officials with concerns.

At least one university official seems willing to take student input into consideration.

That’s how it should be.