Vote on the new constitution
Patrick Boland
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: Opinions
On February 23, you have two important questions. The Student Government Association (SGA) needs you to vote for them to improve our school and save a stagnant organization that, in the past, has cared too much about itself, and less about what is best for the school. VOTE YES ON QUESTIONS 1 AND 2.
QUESTION 1
Do you support the new constitution? You should vote yes.
1) FLEXIBILITY: The Executive Board cannot currently add or subtract members depending on what it needs. This year, we needed a community liaison to interact with clubs and to create unity on the campus. But we couldn't do it under the rules. Past SGAs have had to deal with this, too. We're also proposing the new position of Administrative Assistant to take notes at the meetings, so that we can have a full-fledged publicity chair to publicize what we are doing. We could also call informal brainstorming meetings, which have been incredibly useful to SGA.
2) ELECTION REFORM: How many 8.5" x 11" posters did you see last year? How much paper did we waste? That would all be eliminated. You'll also be able to campaign all the way through the elections, and coercing someone to vote for or against a candidate would be illegal. This change would promote face-to-face campaigning, as opposed to campaign teams that put up your posters.
3) CLASS PRESIDENTS: Class presidents (currently class representatives) will each have a vote, owing to the large nature of their role.
QUESTION 2
Do you support the amendment to move dorm president elections to the fall? You should vote yes. SGA has a problem.
1) APPOINTMENTS: Last year, SGA President Nick Cade appointed more than 20 percent of all dorm presidents. This year, I appointed more than half. This problem is getting worse, not better. Under this amendment, all dorm presidents and the first-year class presidents would be elected in the first few weeks of school.
2) OBJECTIONS: "What about SGA orientation?" It will still happen. Any responsible SGA will make sure that your representatives know how to actually represent you. "What about an incentive to run?" Please, if you need an incentive to be on SGA, you are in it for the wrong reasons. "And what about the first few weeks of school with no representation?" I think it's a small price to pay. Room picks would no longer determine who runs for SGA. SGA would be more democratic -you'd actually elect who represents your dorm when you live there. All members of SGA should be elected, not appointed, and this would help ensure that.
Why should you care? SGA has stagnated under its current constitution. We haven't changed things up in years when change has been desperately needed. I wouldn't have fought so hard for this last year, and fought again this year, if it wasn't important. SGA is your voice, and it needs this change. Help us be better representatives for you. VOTE YES ON QUESTIONS 1 AND 2.
QUESTION 1
Do you support the new constitution? You should vote yes.
1) FLEXIBILITY: The Executive Board cannot currently add or subtract members depending on what it needs. This year, we needed a community liaison to interact with clubs and to create unity on the campus. But we couldn't do it under the rules. Past SGAs have had to deal with this, too. We're also proposing the new position of Administrative Assistant to take notes at the meetings, so that we can have a full-fledged publicity chair to publicize what we are doing. We could also call informal brainstorming meetings, which have been incredibly useful to SGA.
2) ELECTION REFORM: How many 8.5" x 11" posters did you see last year? How much paper did we waste? That would all be eliminated. You'll also be able to campaign all the way through the elections, and coercing someone to vote for or against a candidate would be illegal. This change would promote face-to-face campaigning, as opposed to campaign teams that put up your posters.
3) CLASS PRESIDENTS: Class presidents (currently class representatives) will each have a vote, owing to the large nature of their role.
QUESTION 2
Do you support the amendment to move dorm president elections to the fall? You should vote yes. SGA has a problem.
1) APPOINTMENTS: Last year, SGA President Nick Cade appointed more than 20 percent of all dorm presidents. This year, I appointed more than half. This problem is getting worse, not better. Under this amendment, all dorm presidents and the first-year class presidents would be elected in the first few weeks of school.
2) OBJECTIONS: "What about SGA orientation?" It will still happen. Any responsible SGA will make sure that your representatives know how to actually represent you. "What about an incentive to run?" Please, if you need an incentive to be on SGA, you are in it for the wrong reasons. "And what about the first few weeks of school with no representation?" I think it's a small price to pay. Room picks would no longer determine who runs for SGA. SGA would be more democratic -you'd actually elect who represents your dorm when you live there. All members of SGA should be elected, not appointed, and this would help ensure that.
Why should you care? SGA has stagnated under its current constitution. We haven't changed things up in years when change has been desperately needed. I wouldn't have fought so hard for this last year, and fought again this year, if it wasn't important. SGA is your voice, and it needs this change. Help us be better representatives for you. VOTE YES ON QUESTIONS 1 AND 2.
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