Leading the blind
THE JAMBAR EDITORIAL BOARD
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Opinion
In the opening statement of the SGA Appropriations Budget Restructuralization Project, we are faced with a paradox:
"It is our belief as Student Government Association, being the sole, legitimate, organized representation of the student body at Youngstown State University that our appropriations budget is insufficiently funded, and therefore, results in the failure of Student Government Association to fully tend to the needs of its constituents."
Just as it's our job to be the voice of the student body, it's SGA's job to be the student representative. We take student concerns into the hands of reporters who can get answers, and SGA takes student causes into the hands of those who can barter with administration. Our only problem this time is that their "constituents," the same body they represent, are not being adequately represented this time.
We have no argument that SGA is incapable of funding every organization that requests appropriations. The numbers don't lie, and their budget needs a boost. We fully support students as well as organizations that choose to represent YSU here and anywhere else in the world. What we do disagree with, though, is the way SGA is going about it.
The project is being passed through to people who will vote on another student tax that the students will not be very informed on, or maybe even aware of.
Instead of waiting for the board of trustees to find time in their agenda to review the Project, have the students vote. Have a referendum where the burden is on us to decide. Hold forums to discuss what this means for each of us, our organizations, and our academic opportunities. Market the idea to your constituents rather than placing the decisions that affect us into the hands of bureaucrats.
We know other colleges have proposals similar to this one, and they are working. We know that campus activism is slim on our campus, but we hope the fee encourages students to take advantage of what we have here.
If you want your constituents' trust and respect, respect us enough to clearly provide the necessary information, and trust us with the burden to make the right decision for ourselves.
"It is our belief as Student Government Association, being the sole, legitimate, organized representation of the student body at Youngstown State University that our appropriations budget is insufficiently funded, and therefore, results in the failure of Student Government Association to fully tend to the needs of its constituents."
Just as it's our job to be the voice of the student body, it's SGA's job to be the student representative. We take student concerns into the hands of reporters who can get answers, and SGA takes student causes into the hands of those who can barter with administration. Our only problem this time is that their "constituents," the same body they represent, are not being adequately represented this time.
We have no argument that SGA is incapable of funding every organization that requests appropriations. The numbers don't lie, and their budget needs a boost. We fully support students as well as organizations that choose to represent YSU here and anywhere else in the world. What we do disagree with, though, is the way SGA is going about it.
The project is being passed through to people who will vote on another student tax that the students will not be very informed on, or maybe even aware of.
Instead of waiting for the board of trustees to find time in their agenda to review the Project, have the students vote. Have a referendum where the burden is on us to decide. Hold forums to discuss what this means for each of us, our organizations, and our academic opportunities. Market the idea to your constituents rather than placing the decisions that affect us into the hands of bureaucrats.
We know other colleges have proposals similar to this one, and they are working. We know that campus activism is slim on our campus, but we hope the fee encourages students to take advantage of what we have here.
If you want your constituents' trust and respect, respect us enough to clearly provide the necessary information, and trust us with the burden to make the right decision for ourselves.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
David Spatholt
posted 11/17/09 @ 1:33 PM EST
A referendum is a guise by which you describe the idea of representing the students' wishes. However, given that each representative, and the executive members of student government, are elected or appointed by elected officials suggest that there is a legitimacy to passing a proposal for such a fee. (Continued…)
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