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Printer-Friendly ModeSA responds to criticism
submitted by Emily Hammerbacher
September 19, 2005 —
I'd like to thank Randy Painter for his interest in the functions of the Student Association in his September 12 commentary titled "SA member additions unnecessary." Although I believe SA's actions are always debatable, I believe Mr. Painter's article presents a misleading picture of a larger story.
While I admit the Student Association elections this past semester went under the radar (the Vanguard didn't even publish a story), the Election Commission, not Student Association, is responsible for running and advertising election events like "Meet the Candidates." SA just recently passed a proposal for improving the Election Commission, which we believe will ensure both its members and advisor will have a vested interest in elections.
Secondly, I believe Mr. Painter dismisses the revitalization SA experienced since making the decision to add more representatives to the original 13. Since this change, SA has not only become a much more eclectic and representative body but also a larger workforce to put on new (and creative) programs like Battle of the Valleys, the 2004 Debate Series, A Night with Dr. Maya Angelou, Relay for Life, and The Second City.
These events - along with the day-to-day work of keeping track of allocation requests, serving on University committees as student representatives, grade grievance representatives, gathering and responding to student concerns - would not be possible with just 13 representatives.
Electing five new freshmen or transfer students this fall not only helps SA to be aware of the freshmen perspective, but also helps to maintain a fair amount of experienced representatives in SA. Of the first three freshmen elected two years ago, two are still representatives in their third year, and one serves as Speaker of the House. While SA obviously encourages new people to run for election, experience helps to transition SA from one year to the next.
In order for SA to run smoothly, representatives are broken down into seven committees with internally elected chairs who are paid $300 a semester for what can often be 30 to 40 hours a week spent working for students. That works out to be about half as much compensation per week than what Mr. Painter got paid to write his opinion down in the Vanguard. This is also less than the $55,000 the University would have to shell out to pay for SA representative housing as Mr. Painter was advocating.
In closing, while Mr. Painter chides the representatives of the Student Association for being "popular" and "elite" - I'd challenge the representative who serves in obscurity and pretends to make decisions based on an unknown constituency. Perhaps what Mr. Painter calls popularity is nothing more than the result of planning large-scale events and interacting with the student body on a whole. After all, Student Association is essentially a student government and could not any elected representative be called "popular?"
Applications are available for freshmen and new student positions in the SA office, C118 - they are due Friday.
Emily Hammerbacher Student Association President