2008 Woodie Awards
Council falling short of achieving goals
Brian Galgano
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Op/Ed
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The role of student government in colleges around the country all have the same fundamental purpose: to represent the students and be a conduit for improving the welfare of students. Our student government, or I should say our Student Council, lacks many of the qualities successful student governments have. Being a member of my class council for two years before going abroad and attending almost every Student Council meeting during those two years make me feel that I am qualified, but more importantly obligated to state my views on the changes that Student Council must make in order to be taken as both a serious organization and a respected organization on this campus.
For almost three years now I have watched an organization whose mission, year after year, has become simply a statement in a filing cabinet. Part of the problem has been an internal struggle that has left Student Council battling over its own bylaws, its own mission and its own purpose. This downward spiral of internal unrest, began with members being thrown out of their elected positions by the College's judicial process, has caused a once powerful group to become simply a puppet to the College and a nuisance for clubs and organizations. The struggle for power continues today and clubs and organizations are beginning to feel the burden of an organization that is desperately trying to reach out to their constituents, but is failing miserably. Student Council is treading in deep water now as they have begun to threaten to withhold funding from clubs as a tool to boost attendance for a Student Body meeting. I understand from the perspective of Student Council that it is frustrating to hold Student Body meetings and have no one come out. However, quite honestly, maybe if you were more open, more transparent, more caring about your constituents ,people would care to come speak rather than be afraid and confused.
While I don't want this to sound like a rant about my dislikes of Student Council, I want to provide solutions and open up a dialogue for change and growth. I propose to Student Council to make an active effort to go and speak with their constituents. I urge members of Student Council to go to club meetings and speak to the clubs and find out more about them. The relationship Student Council has developed with clubs is the same relationship I have with my bank. Student Council has become an ATM for organizations and as much as they don't like the idea of being the ATM, they can't use intimidation and power as a way to try to fix this relationship. If Student Council reaches out to the members of this campus in a more friendly and welcoming way then maybe they will begin to see the change they wish. Until they realize they have lost much of the respect of the campus community, the organization will continue down its same path.
There was a time when the leaders of Student Council worked with the leaders of clubs and had discussions to foster ideas. There was a time when some members of Student Council took the time to work in the Garden Room and give something back to the College and make themselves visible to students.
There was a time when members brought ideas forward and took the initiative to follow through and make changes on campus. These times have quickly changed and as a result have left many student leaders weary and concerned that our elected representatives are simply not doing the job we elected them to do.
For almost three years now I have watched an organization whose mission, year after year, has become simply a statement in a filing cabinet. Part of the problem has been an internal struggle that has left Student Council battling over its own bylaws, its own mission and its own purpose. This downward spiral of internal unrest, began with members being thrown out of their elected positions by the College's judicial process, has caused a once powerful group to become simply a puppet to the College and a nuisance for clubs and organizations. The struggle for power continues today and clubs and organizations are beginning to feel the burden of an organization that is desperately trying to reach out to their constituents, but is failing miserably. Student Council is treading in deep water now as they have begun to threaten to withhold funding from clubs as a tool to boost attendance for a Student Body meeting. I understand from the perspective of Student Council that it is frustrating to hold Student Body meetings and have no one come out. However, quite honestly, maybe if you were more open, more transparent, more caring about your constituents ,people would care to come speak rather than be afraid and confused.
While I don't want this to sound like a rant about my dislikes of Student Council, I want to provide solutions and open up a dialogue for change and growth. I propose to Student Council to make an active effort to go and speak with their constituents. I urge members of Student Council to go to club meetings and speak to the clubs and find out more about them. The relationship Student Council has developed with clubs is the same relationship I have with my bank. Student Council has become an ATM for organizations and as much as they don't like the idea of being the ATM, they can't use intimidation and power as a way to try to fix this relationship. If Student Council reaches out to the members of this campus in a more friendly and welcoming way then maybe they will begin to see the change they wish. Until they realize they have lost much of the respect of the campus community, the organization will continue down its same path.
There was a time when the leaders of Student Council worked with the leaders of clubs and had discussions to foster ideas. There was a time when some members of Student Council took the time to work in the Garden Room and give something back to the College and make themselves visible to students.
There was a time when members brought ideas forward and took the initiative to follow through and make changes on campus. These times have quickly changed and as a result have left many student leaders weary and concerned that our elected representatives are simply not doing the job we elected them to do.