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From: mc68020@gilbbs.UUCP (Tom Keller)
Newsgroups: net.college
Subject: Re: Student Govt. What purpose?
Message-ID: <19@gilbbs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Feb-86 19:18:22 EST
Article-I.D.: gilbbs.19
Posted: Wed Feb 26 19:18:22 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 01:37:30 EST
References: <333@ihu1n.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Gil's Place, Santa Rosa CA
Lines: 67
Summary: student 'government' provides service, advocacy, and more

In article <333@ihu1n.UUCP>, johnnyr@ihu1n.UUCP (John R. Rosenberg) writes:
> This may be a naive question, but despite preconceived notions
> I really am interested in information from both sides
> of the question.
> 
> What useful purpose does a student govt. at a college
> or university serve?
> 

   John, the first problem, in my mind, is that some people insist on continuing
to use that outmoded and inaccurate identifier, 'Student Government.'  At my
campus, we avoided this misnomer whenever possible.  We were the Associated
Students, and associations formed for the specific purpose of serving the needs
of students.

   These needs include advocacy (academic as well as political), entertainment,
emergency loan funds, child care, colloquia, representation, and many other
services which can be and are provided my many associated student organizations.


   In California, within the CSUC (California State University and Colleges)
system, consisting of 19 campi (and *NOT* a part of, or associated with the
University of California), the student associations got together to form a
statewide umbrella organization.  This organization has, over the years, 
successfully achieved many positive results for students.  They have a formal
liaison position with the Chancellor's Office.  Through this group's efforts,
students of the CSUC system have a seat on the Board of Trustees, with full
privileges and responsibilities.  The group also has a fulltime lobbying
unit in the state capitol, to interface with legislators and bring the needs
and views of our students to the attention of the legislature.  The group is
highly respected at all levels of the administration of the CSUC system.

   When I started at Sonoma State University, there was no AS.  Students needs
were not considered an issue in the decision making processes of the 
administration, or within the Academic Senate.  Students had little in the
way of extra-curricular activities (which are an enriching and vital part of
a complete educational experience), and no means of making themselves heard.
Making a very long story short, I was the founding vice-Chairperson of the
new AS at SSU, and I am the author of their present constitution.

   The biggest problem facing any student association, regardless of name,
is that of apathy (which, incidentally, is also a major portion of the problem
with the US...think about it...Reagan claims a landslide victory with only
15% of the registered voters in the nation voting for him...*egad*).  When
I hear a student complain about the actions, failures, or foibles of the
student association, my first question is "Did you vote?"  If the answer is
'no,' I tell the idiot to shut his/her mouth and quit complaining.  If they
don't like the way things are going, it is their responsibility to participate
in the process and see to that things are done as they wish.  Second question
is 'When was the last time you attended an AS Board meeting?  The times and
agenda are clearly posted all over campus."  Again, if they haven't, and
can't offer a damned good rationale (yes, in this case, there are acceptable
reasons for not being ale to participate), I say the same thing.

   As a closing thought, consider the student association as a learning 
experience.  By voting, attending meetings, and  volunteering time, one
is gaining valuable participatory experience in the ways and means of 
negotiating through a vote-based participatory representative system.
I haven't seen any formal studies, but I'd be willing to bet cash money that
there is a *STRONG* correalation between those who don't/didn't vote in 
student elections in school, and those who don't vote in local, state and
federal elections.  


{ihnp4, dual}!ptsfa!gilbbs!mc68020  (Tom Keller)

(* we may not be big, but we're small! *)