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A letter to the editor running in this issue suggested that our SGA is merely “powerless and almost a tool of the administration.”
Of course, these are some strong accusations. I knew that SGA is there to do something else besides awarding themselves with sweet sweatshirts. A few recent happenings show both success and struggle in a school where some think the SGA is all but powerless in the university hierarchy.
Example one, which refers to another letter to the editor in this issue: SGA had not actually “approved” the measure presented by Public Safety to increase parking citation fines. They simply “heard” it with no real prerogative to do anything other than to let the increases become a reality.
Junior Sen. Andy Canales, who pointed out the error, noted that they were also concerned about the issue.
“Our advisor suggested SGA get more involved in voicing student opinions and concerns in the decision-making process involving issues like this that affect students,” wrote Canales in an e-mail.
Aren’t we referring to the entire point of student government in the first place? Representing the people’s interests is the usual role of government, if my POSC 104 facts are correct.
It looks like they have a long way to go. Chalk that one up to the “powerless” side of the argument.
Example two: a resolution to change the lighting in the dorms was passed by SGA. The resolution passed unanimously, saying not that lighting must be changed, but that Housing and Community Living must present a solution to SGA by the end of the semester.
While this is a great example of finding a problem that students are encountering and dealing with it, what if HCL comes back saying that the present situation is adequate?
What sort of counter can SGA have even when they know that most students would be for such a change? Not much if we refer to their lack of power to stop parking fine increases.
Example three: The “student development fund” proposed at the last meeting by Inter Club Council President John Deniston:
“This would be a fund that would subsidize events supporting student academic and professional development by granting funds that would pay for on or off-campus student involvement,” Deniston said.
While a good idea in theory, pulling $1,000 from the SGA fund— which is made up of money from every student— to put toward a fund so vaguely described does not seem like a good way to give back to the students.
What exactly is “involvement” in “professional or academic development” that could happen “on or off campus” anyway? It pretty much rules out nothing. And certainly with an allotment of $1,000, it’s not like they can just shell out money to anyone.
The application process would include a “complete and extensive process before the funds were granted.” While this is good safeguarding against poor appropriation, it doesn’t answer the question of whether this money can be better spent elsewhere.
It seems logical that if you have a fund comprised of student money, any and all money allocated from said fund should go toward all students instead of the planned two groups per semester.
All in all, you cannot say SGA is sitting back and wasting everyone’s time or just doing it to pad resumes and score sweatshirts, because there is evidence to the contrary.
While the power that members want to change things might not be there, they are getting semi-important things done; like bus stop benches and lighting and ID cards.
Submitted 02-08-07
MALIBU, CA
