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Editorial: Expect more from SA officials, members
Last spring, 4 percent of NIU’s student body voted in the Student Association/Campus Activities Board executive elections. Sometimes, it seems that is exactly the way many in the organization want it.
On Monday, a Northern Star reporter went to the SA office in the Campus Life Building to obtain a list of this fall’s SA Senate candidates. Contrary to information provided by the SA itself saying the list would be available Monday, the reporter was told that though the list was complete, it would not actually be available until sometime the next day – Tuesday.
Later Monday evening, the reporter was able to obtain the list not through election commissioner Sarah Roman, but through speaker Robert Batey. Though it wasn’t his direct responsibility, the Star appreciates his cooperation in working to provide vital election information to the public.
On Tuesday, the list of candidates had indeed been posted in the SA office window.
The problem: The list had changed from the one provided to us the night before.
All the while, election commissioner Sarah Roman has declined to return multiple voicemails left throughout the day Tuesday from the Star reporter.
As election commissioner, it is her responsibility to provide accurate and reliable information to the public her organization serves.
On a requirement sheet provided to prospective Senate candidates, it was stated that undergraduate student candidates must be enrolled in 12 credit hours and all other student candidates must be enrolled in nine.
This is just not true. According to Article IV, Section 1A of the SA Bylaws, Part II: Election Policy, only paid SA positions – which include executive positions – require students to be enrolled in the above number of credit hours.
This misinformation excluded a whole population of students who otherwise may have explored the opportunity to get involved with the student government, which controls $1.5 million annually – money paid in part by you, the student.
The problem with all of this is that the SA is not giving the student body the credit nor respect it deserves. Whether you know it or not, there are SA officials whose job it is to serve you and reflect your interest within a higher body at NIU.
Too many of these officials seem to guiltlessly and flauntingly toss this responsibility to the side; whether it’s missing meetings or explicitly refusing to hold themselves accountable to their constituents by vetoing a bill last spring designed to do just that.
Students need to step up and require those representing them to take their jobs within the SA seriously. The SA is not supposed to be a student-funded social club in which members play politics.
The SA controls money students paid to come to NIU, and it is supposed to use that money to serve students’ interests.
But if students don’t require the SA to serve them by voting in the elections and paying attention to who’s doing what, then the SA will continue to act like the students it serves don’t even exist.
» Next Opinion Article: Be considerate of others' property
"All the while, election commissioner Sarah Roman has declined to return multiple voicemails left throughout the day Tuesday from the Star reporter.
As election commissioner, it is her responsibility to provide accurate and reliable information to the public her organization serves."
Nice that you destroy someone without destroying the root of the problem: graft. She is probably the victim of graft. I am offering an amendment that will eliminate that. Why aren't you even touching the executive cabinet? You dabbled your hand in it last spring, yet are quite mum about it now. That's a sham.
"On a requirement sheet provided to prospective Senate candidates, it was stated that undergraduate student candidates must be enrolled in 12 credit hours and all other student candidates must be enrolled in nine. This is just not true. According to Article IV, Section 1A of the SA Bylaws, Part II: Election Policy, only paid SA positions – which include executive positions – require students to be enrolled in the above number of credit hours. This misinformation excluded a whole population of students who otherwise may have explored the opportunity to get involved with the student government, which controls $1.5 million annually – money paid in part by you, the student."
Are you suggesting that anyone, including those that are presently enrolled in just UNIV 101, could hold a position in SA? I think not. If that wording is vague, then it needs to be rewritten; but until then, the SOP should dictate policy. Again, I am offering an amendment concerning the election of senators. Senators and other SA officials must have some contract between themselves and the greater university community. Requirments meet that contract.
"The problem with all of this is that the SA is not giving the student body the credit nor respect it deserves. Whether you know it or not, there are SA officials whose job it is to serve you and reflect your interest within a higher body at NIU."
If it were a real senate, it would be a heck of a lot more corrupt. I believe that amendments provide a legitimate answer to these ills, but some credit must be attributed to the SA. Mussolini did make the trains run on time.
"Students need to step up and require those representing them to take their jobs within the SA seriously. The SA is not supposed to be a student-funded social club in which members play politics. The SA controls money students paid to come to NIU, and it is supposed to use that money to serve students’ interests. But if students don’t require the SA to serve them by voting in the elections and paying attention to who’s doing what, then the SA will continue to act like the students it serves don’t even exist."
Why vote? The system of elections is inherently rigged. Lets look at what will happen in this election: A majority of the districts have half as many candidates, another has about as many, and the 3rd is swamped with nearly double. There are only 36 candidates, not even enough for a full house, yet 6 will be knocked off just because they are in a packed district. Something isn't working if it is like that all of the time. Maybe it should be amended so that the at-large seats go to the losers, rather than waiting half a semester until the frats/ or frat-lites have new recruits.
As election commissioner, it is her responsibility to provide accurate and reliable information to the public her organization serves."
Nice that you destroy someone without destroying the root of the problem: graft. She is probably the victim of graft. I am offering an amendment that will eliminate that. Why aren't you even touching the executive cabinet? You dabbled your hand in it last spring, yet are quite mum about it now. That's a sham.
"On a requirement sheet provided to prospective Senate candidates, it was stated that undergraduate student candidates must be enrolled in 12 credit hours and all other student candidates must be enrolled in nine. This is just not true. According to Article IV, Section 1A of the SA Bylaws, Part II: Election Policy, only paid SA positions – which include executive positions – require students to be enrolled in the above number of credit hours. This misinformation excluded a whole population of students who otherwise may have explored the opportunity to get involved with the student government, which controls $1.5 million annually – money paid in part by you, the student."
Are you suggesting that anyone, including those that are presently enrolled in just UNIV 101, could hold a position in SA? I think not. If that wording is vague, then it needs to be rewritten; but until then, the SOP should dictate policy. Again, I am offering an amendment concerning the election of senators. Senators and other SA officials must have some contract between themselves and the greater university community. Requirments meet that contract.
"The problem with all of this is that the SA is not giving the student body the credit nor respect it deserves. Whether you know it or not, there are SA officials whose job it is to serve you and reflect your interest within a higher body at NIU."
If it were a real senate, it would be a heck of a lot more corrupt. I believe that amendments provide a legitimate answer to these ills, but some credit must be attributed to the SA. Mussolini did make the trains run on time.
"Students need to step up and require those representing them to take their jobs within the SA seriously. The SA is not supposed to be a student-funded social club in which members play politics. The SA controls money students paid to come to NIU, and it is supposed to use that money to serve students’ interests. But if students don’t require the SA to serve them by voting in the elections and paying attention to who’s doing what, then the SA will continue to act like the students it serves don’t even exist."
Why vote? The system of elections is inherently rigged. Lets look at what will happen in this election: A majority of the districts have half as many candidates, another has about as many, and the 3rd is swamped with nearly double. There are only 36 candidates, not even enough for a full house, yet 6 will be knocked off just because they are in a packed district. Something isn't working if it is like that all of the time. Maybe it should be amended so that the at-large seats go to the losers, rather than waiting half a semester until the frats/ or frat-lites have new recruits.
Please ignore the previous comment. I have come across information that alters any rational conclusion.