2008 Woodie Awards
Assembly reviews function, structure
Jessica Davis, Content Manager
Issue date: 2/20/07
Last Updated: 8/9/07
According to the proposal, the "at-large representatives would act as liaisons between student government and the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and the College of Business."
During discussion in the meeting, assembly members suggested the at-large members also represent each class.
The proposal is based on two central ideas. One is that the campus is overrepresented. Currently, there is approximately one voting member for every 110 students. The zoning system would eliminate approximately five voting positions.
"There are student governments at larger schools that have as many voting members as we do, and we only have around 2,000 undergrads," Smelser said.
Smelser said this proposal will also help manage growth and put student government structure more in line with that of the university. Most universities are broken up into several colleges by academic discipline.
However, the college currently has no plans to change its governing structure.
In an e-mail, dean of faculty Michael Le Roy wrote, "We might have colleges or schools someday, but we have not really discussed this at this stage of the game."
Le Roy emphasized the college wants to remain committed to keeping the Whitworth culture as unified as possible.
Executive assistant to the President Dale Soden agrees with Le Roy.
"People shouldn't interpret the name change as a signal that we are going to be a significantly different Whitworth," Soden said.
The college has plans to grow by 2 percent every year through 2010.
"More likely than not if we continue to grow and add programs, we will reorganize, but that's not in the current plan," Soden said. "We want to be ready to adapt ourselves to changes that might occur in the future."
The proposal was intentionally left gray so ASWC could adapt it to the college's future needs, Smelser said.
"The biggest benefit to [ASWC] changing before the college changes is the system is in place to add extra lines in job descriptions to say who is responsible for which college," Smelser said.
Arend Hall resident and freshman Tyler Hamilton proposed that the zoning proposal be moved to subcommittee during the discussion.
"It would be foolish to turn down the proposal without looking how to make it better," Hamilton said. "It has the potential to be really good."
During discussion in the meeting, assembly members suggested the at-large members also represent each class.
The proposal is based on two central ideas. One is that the campus is overrepresented. Currently, there is approximately one voting member for every 110 students. The zoning system would eliminate approximately five voting positions.
"There are student governments at larger schools that have as many voting members as we do, and we only have around 2,000 undergrads," Smelser said.
Smelser said this proposal will also help manage growth and put student government structure more in line with that of the university. Most universities are broken up into several colleges by academic discipline.
However, the college currently has no plans to change its governing structure.
In an e-mail, dean of faculty Michael Le Roy wrote, "We might have colleges or schools someday, but we have not really discussed this at this stage of the game."
Le Roy emphasized the college wants to remain committed to keeping the Whitworth culture as unified as possible.
Executive assistant to the President Dale Soden agrees with Le Roy.
"People shouldn't interpret the name change as a signal that we are going to be a significantly different Whitworth," Soden said.
The college has plans to grow by 2 percent every year through 2010.
"More likely than not if we continue to grow and add programs, we will reorganize, but that's not in the current plan," Soden said. "We want to be ready to adapt ourselves to changes that might occur in the future."
The proposal was intentionally left gray so ASWC could adapt it to the college's future needs, Smelser said.
"The biggest benefit to [ASWC] changing before the college changes is the system is in place to add extra lines in job descriptions to say who is responsible for which college," Smelser said.
Arend Hall resident and freshman Tyler Hamilton proposed that the zoning proposal be moved to subcommittee during the discussion.
"It would be foolish to turn down the proposal without looking how to make it better," Hamilton said. "It has the potential to be really good."
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