2008 Woodie Awards
IN THE LOOP: ASWC must look to the past to improve
Editorial Board
Issue date: 10/17/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
Thanks to the hard work of ASWC, Homecoming and Casino Night were a huge success. The planning and advertisement was excellent across the board and the programming hit the mark. Even the dance, a historically non-attended event, was exciting and worthwhile.
However, putting on events is not the only role of student government.
This year's ASWC corps is still very green. The lack of discussion regarding the passage of the club Student's for Mike McGavick on Sept. 27 and the subsequent slow pace of the recall petition is reason for concern.
Regardless of the outcome of the petition and discussion, the issue will be a moot point as the Nov. 7 general elections are just around the corner, after which the club will disband.
At the ASWC meeting following the clubs approval, ASWC president Fa'ana Fanene admitted the group's mistake of rushing their decision to approve the club and announced a restructuring of the meetings. The financial portion of the meetings was placed after the opening section to ensure discussions about money and clubs would not be rushed.
This was a step in right direction, but no other analytical dialogue about the mistake or the role of campus clubs has taken place.
A discussion over the proper function of a club needs to take place.
Current ASWC leadership must look to the past for examples of how to create appropriate discussion.
Seniors, especially, who were a part of ASWC in the past can explain to students what an effective government meeting looks like. They were participants of effective meetings during their freshman and sophomore years.
At these past meetings, the top executives were efficient and thorough with time management. They could tell when a discussion needed to be cut short and when a discussion needed more time. The executives created and sometimes demanded discourse on campus issues. Problems not only were brought up, but were decided and in many cases acted upon.
However, expectations were reshaped during the past school year.
Up until last year, it was expected that voting members would be present for the entire meeting. Even if members of ASWC had a Wednesday night class, it was their duty to attend the entire meeting or find and inform someone who would.
The culture changed last year because of poor leadership. Now ASWC members expect short and snappy meetings.
These faster meetings, while enjoyable for those in attendance, are selling the student body short. In the rush to get done, discussions are either too long and repetitive or non-existent at all.
Current ASWC executives and voting members need to take their jobs more seriously, because their decisions impact individuals as well as campus policy.
It takes time for the dynamics of an organization like ASWC to work smoothly and efficiently. This process is simply taking too long.
However, putting on events is not the only role of student government.
This year's ASWC corps is still very green. The lack of discussion regarding the passage of the club Student's for Mike McGavick on Sept. 27 and the subsequent slow pace of the recall petition is reason for concern.
Regardless of the outcome of the petition and discussion, the issue will be a moot point as the Nov. 7 general elections are just around the corner, after which the club will disband.
At the ASWC meeting following the clubs approval, ASWC president Fa'ana Fanene admitted the group's mistake of rushing their decision to approve the club and announced a restructuring of the meetings. The financial portion of the meetings was placed after the opening section to ensure discussions about money and clubs would not be rushed.
This was a step in right direction, but no other analytical dialogue about the mistake or the role of campus clubs has taken place.
A discussion over the proper function of a club needs to take place.
Current ASWC leadership must look to the past for examples of how to create appropriate discussion.
Seniors, especially, who were a part of ASWC in the past can explain to students what an effective government meeting looks like. They were participants of effective meetings during their freshman and sophomore years.
At these past meetings, the top executives were efficient and thorough with time management. They could tell when a discussion needed to be cut short and when a discussion needed more time. The executives created and sometimes demanded discourse on campus issues. Problems not only were brought up, but were decided and in many cases acted upon.
However, expectations were reshaped during the past school year.
Up until last year, it was expected that voting members would be present for the entire meeting. Even if members of ASWC had a Wednesday night class, it was their duty to attend the entire meeting or find and inform someone who would.
The culture changed last year because of poor leadership. Now ASWC members expect short and snappy meetings.
These faster meetings, while enjoyable for those in attendance, are selling the student body short. In the rush to get done, discussions are either too long and repetitive or non-existent at all.
Current ASWC executives and voting members need to take their jobs more seriously, because their decisions impact individuals as well as campus policy.
It takes time for the dynamics of an organization like ASWC to work smoothly and efficiently. This process is simply taking too long.
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