EDITORIAL: A call for competency


SGA reform necessary for progress


editorial

As this year's Student Government Association elections begin today, the organization is faced with only one candidate running for president, an inactive Senate, a comparatively low operating budget and a general lack of student interest.

The power and influence of SGA seems to be in decline. In the 2011 elections, only 542 out of more than 20,000 students voted.

The state of the organization is less than ideal, but with strong support from SGA representatives and student groups, President Chuck Mahone has a chance to use his second term to make a real impact at CMU.

We challenge Mahone and running mate, Maggie Blackmer, to fix the SGA. You have the opportunity to solve the problems that sometimes keep SGA from passing impactful legislation and being a powerful voice on campus.

First, we challenge SGA leaders to recruit a larger number of capable, dedicated senators and representatives. The Senate has gone into recess for the remainder of the semester due to a lack of quorum caused by academic issues and personal stress.

Mahone said in a candidate interview with Central Michigan Life that the recess is not concerning because the senate has completed its legislative work for the semester, but he also called it unacceptable. 

We agree. The early recess of the Senate shows us deep, systemic issues with leadership and communication between SGA leaders and senators. This needs to be fixed if the organization is to be effective.

Better recruitment strategies, in-depth legacy notes and training on senator job expectations would attract not only more, but the right kind of students to the organization. Senators who join SGA should be dedicated to doing their job and representing the student body. Leadership needs to hold them accountable for participating and not allow something like this recess to happen again.

Next, the SGA needs to improve its overall engagement with the student body. Leaders like Mahone have proven they can connect with registered student organizations, the Greek community and students already associated with SGA.

But students who do not belong to those organizations still have strong opinions about campus issues and policies. It is they who SGA should be reaching out to.

SGA's $23,000 budget is lower than other Michigan universities — the Associated Students of Michigan State University work with $1.6 million, and Saginaw Valley State University's Student Association has a $140,000 budget, making it difficult for SGA to even afford promotional materials. 

However, utilizing social media is free and is the best way to disseminate information to students. Stronger social media engagement would allow SGA to gauge public opinion and build a relationship with students.

SGA's official website seems not to have been updated since 2012. This is baffling. That must change if students are are to be informed about what their representatives are doing.

Finally, we challenge SGA to initiate projects that affect a larger number of students. Mahone's goals for this and last election have been both tangible and realistic, but underwhelming. This year's platform points  — extended library hours, space request reform for RSOs and the inclusion of larger, wider desks — are all attainable ideas. 

SGA needs to tap into the larger concerns that are important to the student body and make them the focus of their advocacy. 

Mahone told Central Michigan Life in his candidate interview that he believes he is worth the 24 credits of free tuition he is granted as SGA president.

We, and the other students at CMU, want to see you prove it.

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