The Observer, January 26, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 14
Changes in student leadership needed
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor:
Last fall, following the construction of the Thwing Graffiti Wall, a student organization decided, on its own, to make rules for use of the wall. The Student Executive Council (SEC) publicized its decision, prompting an uproar from some students concerned that a non-representative body was making decisions for them.
The primary function of the SEC – an exclusive group of eight voting members – is the allocation of revenue from the Student Activity Fee (SAF) paid by all undergraduate students. This represents an annual budget of near 1 million dollars.
The SEC was established to streamline the allocation of these funds among five organizations: the University Program Board (UPB), the Media Board, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the Interfraternity Congress (IFC), and the Panhellenic Council (Panhel). Each of these organizations is represented on the SEC.
Additionally, the SEC includes a non-voting representative of the Residence Hall Association (RHA). Of the SEC members, only those representing USG are elected by the entire undergraduate body.
In the current structure of the SEC, the members do not represent the interests of the student body as a whole. Instead, they represent the interests of their respective organizations. Because a 3/4 vote is required to change the SAF allocation and because SEC members resist changes which reduce their organization's share of SAF funding, the allocations tend to be fixed from year to year. This leads to a situation where funding allocations stagnate even as the needs of the student body evolve.
Therefore, student leadership organizations on this campus must be restructured. Media Board, USG, and UPB should be consolidated into a replacement for the SEC, perhaps called the "Undergraduate Senate." This new organization would truly represent all undergraduates.
Certainly RHA, Panhel, and IFC are important leadership organizations for their respective constituents. However, by their very nature, these organizations do not represent all undergraduates. Therefore, we feel it is inappropriate that these groups are directly involved in the allocation of the SAF.
We believe changes in student leadership are necessary. However, the SEC Grant of Power, approved by the University administration and Board of Trustees, restricts students' power to fix the system: the only group that can alter the SEC is the SEC itself. Thus, we conclude that intervention by the University administration is needed to reform this system.
Andrew Witte
Matthew David Crowley
Undergraduate Students
