This was done because as Amy Plack told those at the meeting "SGA is different from all the other student organizations and . . .[because SGA is technically given all social fees to dispense to student organizations] it's our money to do with as we please." There was some feeling that SGA is doing a favor to the Class III OCFC by not having a member on the committee that dispenses funds to the Class III organizations, as well as some feeling that this bookkeeping measure establishes SGA as a governing body.
As Newspeak sees it, there will be no change in services received by any student or organization from this measure, safeguards exist to keep any organization from sucking off too much funding, in that all expenses have to be approved by someone in the administration. SGA will approve its own budget first and even though it is no longer in any budgetary classification, it still receives its funding from the same source as all other groups, social fees.
SGA went on to approve funding for the soccer club and after much debate, it turned down a request by the women's crew team for additional funding. The meeting ended when there was no longer a quorum, there were not enough senators in attendance to discuss the upcoming election.
As far as we can tell, there is no chance for the student body to meet the candidates face-to-face. This was briefly explained to be the case by someone involved in the senate because "last year no one showed up." No small wonder, if there aren't even enough senators interested in attending meetings, how is the interest going to be there for the rest of the students.
It is appalling that this apathy on the part of the student government can be such a slap in the face to the entire community. By not even giving a chance to meet the candidates, we are all denied a chance to meet the "student leaders" on campus. There is also the fact that the races are for the most part uncompetitive. Interest in SGA seems to be very low and it is our recommendation that something be done about this image problem.
Perhaps more interest in the community on the part of SGA is needed, perhaps more senators should get out of the office and onto the Quad for a while. Talk with the student body. This seems to be the topic of so many speeches and letters, but it is all too often not carried out. Frankly, we are disappointed in our leadership for their lack of interest in us and we see no other option but to call it to their attention.
While we realize that there are members of the SGA that do care about the school, far too often they fall short of their own goals. If the task is too daunting, perhaps that should be considered before one runs for a position in the student government. We realize that there is a serious time commitment involved in being a part of SGA, but when the commitment is not met, we are all disappointed.
Give feedback: newspeak@wpi.wpi.edu