SGA meetings on Mondays need to be better attended
Let’s be honest, 90 percent of campus has never been to an SGA meeting and sat in the gallery.
I have not been there, and I deeply regret that.
For too long, Mercer students simply sit by and let the Student Government Association do their own thing with little in the way of common student interaction beyond elections that happen a few times during the year.
This is not what a representative body needs to be. Blame can definitely fall on both sides of the spectrum, as many can argue that SGA has not tried hard enough to increase the common Mercer student’s influence.
However, more needs to be made of it. Who is SGA to decide what is done with over $150,000 in funding? Well, we elect them, do we not?
Therefore, should we not have more of an influence in what they do?
Can we blame SGA for not reaching out?
Maybe as seniors, we are assumed to know how to get in touch with our representatives responsible for us.
However, I do not feel that this is an acceptable assumption.
In the recent hub-bub surrounding the recycling expansion that was passed, all senators were pleaded to go ask what their constituents felt about the issue.
Despite knowing all of the senior senators, I do not remember any of them asking myself or any senior I had asked.
I feel like this is a horrible dereliction of duty.
I did see several senators asking about opinions from different classes.
However, I feel that there is a dangerous unbalance of power in SGA currently.
There are individuals who vote as blocks and pass on votes to see how others vote.
While I have not been there to witness, I have heard that some members of SGA are so passive, they will pass on an important vote just to see which way to vote from the individuals whom they follow.
We can chalk this up to people trying to push their platform though, which is perfectly legitimate since they ran for office and won it based in popular vote, or we can chalk this up to an abuse of power.
I do not want to make accusations, but rather I feel that the student body must hold their representatives accountable. SGA meetings on Monday must be better attended.
This is a must for Mercer in order to progress as a university. I really believe this.
I am planning on attending at least a few SGA sessions before I graduate, if only to be more knowledgeable of what’s going on behind closed doors.
I hear that it is bitter and full of vitriol, but many senators feel that this would be calmer if normal people were there.
In essence, I know I have previously asked Mercerians to unite and come together via sporting events.
However, it is much more urgent that we take stock and get our own voices heard.
The voting blocs in SGA might cease to become so uniform, and students might actually get asked for their input.
I think it is a great strategy. Go ask who your senators are and expect some feedback about how SGA is doing from them.
We cannot remain passive and ignorant of the decisions made by those that we elect into power.
Comments, questions or concerns about this column can be sent to [email protected]
Granted most of the students in SGA are not very welcoming at these meetings.
I went to SGA every Monday for a year as the panhellenic liaison. While I do believe that there is a little bit of a disconnect between the senate and the students (all of the issues I brought to the senate were acknowledged and then never mentioned again), I don’t believe that there is dangerous unbalance of power on campus. Any student is welcome to come to an SGA meeting, and the ONLY time I saw students it was because they wanted money for their organization. Every funding issue and otherwise are thoroughly discussed and then either tabled or voted on. Although I did not see it often, some senators did vote “no” on issues. I don’t believe that these senators are too timid to speak up and vote for what they believe in.
Let’s address the first problem with this article: The author clearly stated that he has not been to an SGA meeting and the “sources” of these rumors are unnamed and unsubstantiated. These statements are made on unchecked claims. If the message of this opinion is to increase student attendance at Senate meetings, then perhaps the first step for the author would be to actually ATTEND one in order to justify any of the contentions in this article.
Sorry to disagree with your statement, Anonymous poster, but the Senators love seeing new faces in the gallery during Senate. Unfortunately, I had to step down in December due to Study Abroad, but as a former Senator myself, I can assure you that there has been a push to increase SGA’s connectivity with the student body. Although I would agree that there needs to be an increase in communication between SGA and students and that this has been an area where SGA has faulted, it has become an important point to improve this, hence why we invite members of the Cluster to come and report on the issues. Liz Bibb, CJ Akins, etc., have been important stepping stones in this endeavor.Voting is generally uniform for a reason – Senators debate an issue, amend legislation, hammer out details, and figure out the pros and cons to legislation in an often-long, thorough conversation. If Senators are finally in support of a measure, they vote, either in the affirmative or the negative. If Senators have further questions about a piece of legislation, they can object to the vote and continue to ask questions as many times as they deem necessary. The point of debate is to make sure that these measures are examined so that a vote can take place. I know I myself have voted either ‘No’ or ‘Abstain’ on many issues that I was either against, even after debate, or agreed in principle but not in specifics. If you want more “contention” and divisiveness in Senate, I am sorry to inform you that the point of SGA is not to function like the American political system that is gridlocked and ineffective. We debate so that things CAN BE PASSED. That is the point. Debating doesn’t take place so that Senators can “agree to disagree”, it is so that legislation can be made amendable to all constituents.I see no reason to claim that there is a “dangerous unbalance of power” (which should at any rate, read “imbalance” – great editing). Senators and the Vice President are all endowed with one vote. There is a clear voting structure in place. There are clear election procedures in place. Students vote for their Senators and have ample opportunity to contact their Senators or SGA in general, and SGA wholeheartedly welcomes any student to come and voice his/her concerns. There are no “closed doors” when it comes to SGA; if you feel as though there are voting blocs and too-much passiveness, listen to the podcasts of each Senate. They are recorded and posted regularly. The point of this is so interested students can listen to what SGA is doing even if they cannot attend the 5:30 PM Senate meetings. It is the onus of the student to vest interest in SGA, just as it is the onus of SGA to increase its communication with students. SGA is working on the latter, but many times, students fail to address the former.If you feel as though your Senators have failed to represent your interests, take that into consideration when you go back to the polls later this spring. I can list what I’ve done through SGA and what I’ve done for the Juniors in my class. I often ask what people think and I take it upon myself to talk to people about what SGA is doing and to promote what SGA is doing. I know several Senators have done the same thing, primarily through Facebook. If you think that a Senator is failing to represent their constituents, the answer is easy: come to Senate, make your voice heard, and if your Senator still fails to perform their duties as you, as a voter, see fit, do not re-elect them.
Regards!
“SGA is working on the latter, but many times, students fail to address the former.” is definitely where we agree. While I feel I have been a part of much at Mercer, I have honestly never been to SGA, and thats because I never really considered the implications of my actions. I respect the process and the organization, and I’m sorry I didn’t make that distinction clear in the piece.
First, there are just too many assumptions and hearsay in your article that they automatically overshadow any credibility you have.
Second, you directly and carelessly draw numerous conclusions from these assumptions and hearsay. Using assumptions and hearsay are already bad; yet drawing your own judgement from them are even worse.
Third, do attend a few Senate meetings, talk to more Senators, and find out more about what we do with our funding, THEN write another opinion piece about your experience.
Finally, compare the opinion piece you write with real experiences and this one. And you’ve learned a lesson.
For the record, I have been planning on doing that and seeing how my opinions change. I fully plan on being in the gallery come Monday to see it all. I can assure it was not careless, and I didn’t not name any names or issues directly because, as you said, I haven’t been there. This wasn’t a report, it was an opinion piece. I know it seems like you prompted this, but I planned on it from the get-go.
I kinda skimmed over this a little so I didn’t really pay attention to what the author says or accuses. But I do agree that I don’t really hear about SGA doing anything involving the students (maybe they do and I just don’t notice but I only really hear about them during elections and when they give out grants). So I would say SGA needs to try to get more involved with the students by reaching out to them in some way and not relying on the students to come to meetings on Monday. Here’s the issue with that:
Most students are either too busy with studies, work, etc. or they just don’t care enough to drag themselves over to a building to hear people talk and then leave after hearing the issues. Personally, and I know a lot of my friends are like this, we just live our own lives and I can say that I don’t vote for any senators because, honestly, I don’t have anything to rely on with SGA. With that being said, I don’t mean to offend anybody, but with this, I have no intention on going to meetings for an organization I know little about or barely coexist with.
Basically, the main message here is that I am open for SGA activities for student involvement but I feel that SGA has to make the leap, not the rest of the student body if that makes sense. I know it sounds like I’m just being lazy but I’m sure that I’m not the only person who feels this way.
Read my comment on what SGA has been doing. The steps are being made. Maybe not at the pace that some would like, but there are measures being taken. It isn’t a process that can be fixed overnight.
I find it funny that a member of Alpha Tau Omega, an organization who just received $1225 from SGA to host an event with many collaborative organizations, criticizes another organization for not allowing “common influence” onto the organization. As a member of the executive council, a GDI appointed by a greek president, and current creator of the show “Young Puns” (a show that I, Senator White, Senator Hickman, and Editor-in-Chief Liz Bibb all created to enhance the visibility of SGA)…I can say unquestionably that SGA spends an enormous amount of time trying to find ways to enhance visibility of the organization and encourage as many students as possible to be apart of the democratic process at Mercer. In fact, if you would have investigated how SGA operates over the past two weeks, you would have noticed new bylaw standards to lengthen the campaign season from one week to a month. In conjunction with the new bylaws, elections will be also lengthened from one day to one week. If you haven’t figured out by now what that means…it means more people will be included in the selection process of SGA members and its President.
Now, SGA performs many events throughout the year to add to the student life at Mercer. The Heritage Life Committee (co-chaired by Mollie Davis and Matt Hickman) put togethe such events as Pilgrimmage to Penfield and Founder’s Day. The Student Life Committee hosts two Presidential Roundtables for student leaders in ALL student organizations that are recognized on campus. Not only can students attend Weekly senatorial meetings at 5:30 pm, but we also have office hours on Mondays from 9 am until 5 pm in which students are more than encouraged to come speak with members of SGA to express concern, submit questions, or just chat. Most, if not all, members SGA are prominent, multi-tasking students on campus who care VERY much about Mercer and its future. To suggest that the body, or its individuals. are not doing enough to reach out to students is not only insulting, but shows just how much you really don’t know anything about what you are talking about.
The facts are that currently, here at Mercer, we have a growing problem among the mass population of students who care very little about politics. We have defunct organizations in both Mercer Young Democrats and Young Republicans (although, I saw some hope today when Sharpe Sablon, who is a phenomenal guy trying to sign people up with the Young Republicans). Despite the PSA honor society (of which I am the President of) offering a trip to Washington D.C. to its members (funded by SGA via conference/lodging budgeting) we have low numbers attendance at meetings and events because students are more concerned with other social activities.
Politics is not easy. Sometimes its downright boring. That does not mean it is not important. Fact is…people only want to use the political system when people think it should benefit them. If students want more involvement in the political process at Mercer…they could easily have it. Our organization posts every meeting into podcasts on our website, invite students to speak with us, and SGA constantly seeks feedback. YET…and I do mean YET…in the last election for Junior Senators we had three open spots and ONLY three people ran for office. How sad. This tells me that SGA does not have an open system, but the Mercer population does not think SGA is important enough to be involved in (although I would disagree vehemently)
To the final point you make about “not being asked” about recycling. I certainly remember when Katie Martin stood up in Geology class and asked all those in favor of expanding the recycling program on campus to consider writing a letter to the class senators that represented them. Funnily enough, I recall that you are in that class. It is, for obvious reasons, easier for the population to reach the members of SGA than for the five senators that represent you to speak to everyone in the respective class. If you wanted your voice to be heard…I know for a fact you were told how best to do it. STOP complaining (and I say this to all Mercer students) about what is not done FOR you and GET UP…quit being lazy…and do something about it. Go to meetings. Talk to to your senators (they will gladly speak to you), stop by the SGA office…and lastly, if you are going to write an op-ed (probably because you need the extra 10 bucks) do so with some sort of dignity and research. Otherwise, your opinion is not only worthless…it should have probably been kept to inner workings of the small mind in which it came from.
With all that said, we have some phenomenal people who work on SGA. President Locke is by far one of the greatest people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. VP Ekeke is a dear friend of mine and works diligently at his post. Senators Robinson, Bradshaw, White, Turner, and many others are shining examples of the vastly diverse group of students we have on SGA, with the exception of two qualities…dedication and leadership. All possessing different styles but all very much appreciation. I am always elated when I hear Senator Thompson (Melissa) talk about the spirit we should have for our school, and I love meeting with Senators Thompson (Austin), White, and Partolan when we discuss the appropriate avenues for Judicial Review (a subcommittee created by President Locke to look into the actual appropriateness of what our constitution says about the issue). We have dedicated leaders on SGA. To be frank, its everyone else that needs to get on board (which is obvious, as someone who wrote this article he, himself, does not even participate at a functional level).
First of all, the very fact that I’m attacked for a small mind is a bit extreme, but that’s neither here nor there, for I know I touched a nerve. As for needing ten dollars, nope, I’m pretty much okay these days, but thank you for caring about my fiscal well-being.
As for the Bear Grant emergency funding, I am the one who actually did the research to see whether we qualified for it with Kid’s Day Out. I utilized the process, but it proves my point with my own actions. I could care less (until now) about what SGA really did unless it served my purpose. That being said, don’t attack an organization I’m affiliated with for something I write in an op-ed piece. It proves that students do actually read The Cluster after all, all joking aside from the student body.
I applaud the new election cycles, and I actually had heard about them previously, because what did I do? I asked a few Senators about what had been going on at SGA. To assume that I’m a complete idiot, well that’s a bit low. The main purpose for this was achieved. Members of SGA actually stood up and supported their organization. I’m happy I achieved that, getting more of an open dialogue. Once again, I mentioned twice I had not been, which is my own personal shortcoming. One that I plan on changing on Monday.
As for recycling, you are right, I was in that class. I still am. I am mistaken in that regards, and I apologize for that statement. However, I’m also very sure she was not a senior senator. If she is, well then shame on me, but I was under the impression that she was not. You are right, there are a variety of ways to get my voice heard. I have spoken up before, but it has never been a goal of mine.
Maybe this is just the rambling of a senior who is reaching the end of his time and wants to see some more change before he goes. However, I think you overlook that I also mentioned we need to hold ourselves accountable as well.
As a freshman senator, I am definitely new to the arena of university politics; however, I am not new to the arena of school politics as a whole. Compared to my experience in the student government in the high school that I graduated from, my experience in this body has been more than fulfilling. For the 2011-2012 school year, SGA has maintained a $151,000 budget all for expenditures that benefit the student body in some way. The issues discussed in this body every Monday night are captivating and the best part is: we discuss issues that pertain to the body that we represent– the students as a whole. It is my belief that the student body, being our constituents, should endeavor to take the initiative in voicing their opinions to SGA. With the support of Dr. Doug Pearson, Dean of Students, representatives from Residence Life, and the support of the higher administration, SGA serves as the liaison between the higher-ups and the student body as a whole. Like what has already been mentioned, numerous opportunities are presented to students to involve themselves with the inner workings of SGA (office hours, open senate sessions, student life evens such as Founders’ Day and Christmas Tree Lighting). Actually, I applaud the author of this op-ed for bringing the issue of the transparency of SGA into the public’s eye. Perhaps, this article will help compel more students to see what the organization really does for them and see ways in which they can further involve themselves.
I encourage all readers to attend a senate meeting Mondays at 5:30 in CSC Conference Room II. We always welcome reports from the gallery and, in rebuttal to the anonymous poster who suggests that members of SGA are not welcoming, I must disagree.
DistastefulCan we talk about this Garret?
I’d be more than happy to.
My colleagues have already given superb feedback regarding the fallacies of this article.
However, I would like to send my sincerest sarcastic apology to Garret McDowell, who I did not individually seek out to ask his thoughts on recycling. As a senior senator, I went to several senior capstone and other upper-level classes and spoke with seniors (and underclassmen) throughout the campus grounds about the issue.
I realize my mistake in not seeking out the opinion of the Opinions’ page writer instead of the opinions of a multitude of senior students, and I apologize for this dereliction of duty.
I stand corrected on the dereliction of duty comments. Since most of my semester hours are currently independent study, I really do apologize for any offense I caused. Sarcasm or not, I said what I felt at the time, and I’m more than capable of realizing I was wrong on multiple fronts and admitting it now.
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