Student Senate: Drawing about 105 thousand dollars from your student activity fee fund, Student Senate is the org you pay for that is MOST likely to let you down. Before you start wondering what the hell Student Senate could possibly blow 105k a year on, I'll break their budget down a little further. The largest portion of Senate's budget, about 72 thousand dollars, goes to paying the Student Legal Services lawyer. If you don't already know what this is, you are probably one of the lucky few that have yet to be arrested by UNH's finest. Student Legal Services is an excellent resource for ALL students on this campus. Services are free and Joanne Stella, the lawyer, is extremely knowledgeable and helpful with all cases involving the trouble one is likely to get into on an average weekend in Durham. This is probably the ONLY reason Senate is worthwhile, and in actuality the two's only tie is that Senate is using your money to pay for her--I can't give them much credit there.
In theory Student Senate is a great idea: give students the power to perform checks and balances over University policies and actions. In practice it's a whole different story. The biggest fundamental problem with Student Senate is that THEY HAVE NO ACTUAL POWER. I've heard the rhetoric, "We have the voice of the student body." Bottom line is, THAT. MEANS. NOTHING! Senate goes about their weekly meetings commending or condemning certain polices or vowing to work with the University to find common ground, but at the end of the day the University can and will do whatever it pleases. Senate can pass bills until its blue in the face and Administration doesn't have to change a thing. IF you don't believe me, look into the housing policies of late that make University housing through the Residential Life Regime just about a step up from living in prison--say so long to personal rights. The reality is that the Administration doesn't have to listen to a single thing senate says or does, that's when Senate's even standing up for us and saying or doing anything.
The second core problem is that in recent years Senate has been composed of "YAY" saying administration supporters--not to mention ex or current residential life members. This is a vital failure in checks and balances! Viewpoints of senators have already been so skewed by member's ties to the Administration it is impossible to expect change or even fair results. When the usual turnout is less than 1000 students for the yearly Student Body President, VP and Trustee elections, I question the legitimacy of Senate at even its very foundation. It seems like the ultimate win for the Administration: Take all the students who are motivated and looking for change, allow them to have something to keep them busy, and continue on doing what it was going to do in the first place.
But hey, just my thoughts.... (I'd love to hear yours!)
Next Time: Find out why CAB is likely to let you down.
*thanks to those who provided the information that made this series of articles possible (you know who you are)
and as always, Live Life Lifted
i love this series!
ReplyDeleteStill liking your contributions, but remember: paragraphs are your friend.
ReplyDeleteRight on bud, excellent article. Keep 'em coming
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the sentiment of this post, but I understand your perspective. The only thing I would like to challenge is that Senate has nothing to do with Legal Services. Senate has, several times, protected Legal Services. In 2004 after the hockey and Red Sox riots, the Board of Trustees wanted to dissolve the office because of bad p.r. Student Senate picketed the Board meeting and demanded Legal Service continue, which it still does.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for commenting. Sorry about the lack of paragraphs, it came out kind of late night stream of consciousness, I'll fix that in the future. As for the last comment you are absolutely right, the Senate of yesteryear battled to create Student Legal Services and defended it in 2004. BUT, I'm not talking about senate 7 years ago. Unless this is like your 5th victory lap, Senate has done NOTHING to benefit the average student in the time I've been here. I challenge anyone out there to present a resolution that Senate has passed in the last 4 years that changed our campus for the better, something the average student could really get behind and say "I'm glad I pay for this organization to be around." Until I hear some valid arguments and see some solid evidence, Student Senate is the organization MOST LIKELY TO LET YOU DOWN AND WASTE YOUR MONEY!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you wrote that last line in all capital letters, otherwise I would not have been able to read it.
ReplyDeleteI somewhat resent this series, for a few reasons. First of all, you are taking the view of an outsider, saying that Student Organizations have to serve the campus. This isn't actually the case. You don't pay the student activity fee so that you can be served by other students. You pay the fee so that you can participate in organizations that are supported by it. Although some organizations serve the student body more than others, perhaps you are missing the point. Student Senators gain valuable experience and skills, and they demonstrate commitment to their organization and to future employers. For organizations like SCAN-TV, SCOPE, and CAB, the point of their existence is in the process, not necessarily the final product.
ReplyDeleteStudent Senators gain experience and skills for what? Apparently themselves, at the expense of the campus community.
ReplyDelete