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| Russell Greim is a senior business major and writes 'The Temporal Front' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.. |
Last year at this time, I addressed the failures of the Rector slate to pass useful legislation and to research that legislation.-áTwo of the three issues I addressed directly have been struck down and will never see implementation.-á
This year, I will again address the failures of the SGA.
The SGA, in theory, is a body that advocates student issues to the administration.-áIn the end, however, the fruits of its labor show how little they actually accomplish.-á
For example, upon requesting all legislation passed by the SGA this year, I received seven documents stamped "Approved."-áThe following legislation was passed: two bills dealing with internal SGA functions, three bills dealing with facilities (one of which has been invalidated by the city), one bill on University Advising, and one bill on increased funding for the Multi-Cultural Center.
One of two things has occurred. Either the SGA office has failed to provide copies of all legislation passed (as requested) or, more likely, in the nearly six months of the academic year, SGA has passed just slightly more than 1 bill per month.-áMost of these bills serve a select few.-áHow do actions such as these serve the student body?
Additionally, it was reported by the Daily News on October 24, 2002, that President Olowomeye made the simple yet telling statement "It is the 11th week of school and not one piece of legislation has crossed this floor."-áIf the student senators and the slate that leads the organization do not have the integrity and desire to pass legislation before the 11th week, why should students vote?
Perhaps the most telling fact about the SGA is its budget.-áI requested a copy of the budget and discovered many disturbing facts.
SGA has $2,300 budgeted for phone equipment;-á$1,300 budgeted for "executive expenses"; $1,600 budgeted for athletic bus trips;-á$800 budgeted for "office renovations";-á$13,165 allotted for "communication" which includes ads taken out in the Daily News, The Pride Guide and a brochure;-á$3,600 budgeted for an advertisement in the B-Book directory;-áand $550 set aside for an ad in Expo magazine.-á
The fact is, the SGA spent more than one-third of its budget on nonessential, and nonadvocacy related items.-áAn additional one-third was spent on internal wages for fellows and receptionists.-á
The reason the SGA is a waste of time is simple.-áIt is a group that writes legislation so narrowly focused and poorly researched that it is doomed to fail.-áIt wastes money on nonadvocacy items.-áIt supports bus trips that are often canceled due to lack of interest.-áIt spends more time touting its virtues than accomplishing goals.
The idea of the SGA is a great and noble thing.-áThe problem is with its structure, its behavior and its waste.-áThe fewer students who vote, the more true leaders will notice, and the more likely something will be done to fix a broken system.
Write to Russell at rlg@temporalfront.com
Visit http://www.temporalfront.com
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