It's a question of priorities.
The Student Government Association has limited resources, limited time and limited personnel. The only way SGA can be effective is to direct its energies toward areas where it can make a real difference for students.
At this point in the school year, no legislation has been composed, let alone brought to a vote. But at their meeting last night, SGA members began discussing the ideas they will be working on for the rest of the school year.
The Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Committee wants a plan to allow more courses to fulfill the global studies portion of the core curriculum added to the agenda. The proposal would make Asian-American, African-American and Women's Studies courses count toward the requirement.
All Ball State graduates should leave this institution with an understanding of people and cultures not like themselves.
This is a serious proposal directly impacting the quality of a Ball State education. It will take a lot of work and preparation, but we believe it is an example of an area where SGA can leave a positive mark on the university. It should be a high priority.
At the same meeting, Justin Hinga, chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee, suggested allowing the concession stand at the staduim to sell beer.
This proposal, too, would take significant work, preparation, and research before it could be passed. Questions surround the issue: Would alcohol sales violate NCAA regulations? How would Ball State get a liquor license? How much would it cost? How would sales be regulated? Who could serve the beer?
Answering those questions would take hours of time and effort. Even if the proposal could be passed, it would only benefit about half of the student body.
We advise SGA to instead focus its energy, resources, and time on proposals that could make things better for every student at Ball State, such as the plan to alter the core curriculum.
While the university struggles with rising costs, deficits, and athletic cuts that could one day extend to football, our representatives don't have the luxury of thinking about beer.
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