Where to go from here
After a competitive Student Government Association election, Jason Nichol and Brittany Mouzourakis won the top two executive spots.
Nichol and Mouzourakis, now president-elect and vice president-elect of the SGA, face a daunting slew of tasks during the upcoming academic year.
Here are three immediate objectives for Nichol and Mouzourakis.
Steady tuition
The SGA obviously does not have control over tuition rates. That power lies in the hands of the Board of Trustees.
However, the SGA, as the voice of the student body, can press the issue more effectively than any other student group.
Nichol and Mouzourakis, as well as the rest of the newly elected SGA, need to make clear immediately that a tuition increase for fall is unacceptable in this economy - especially with Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed tuition freeze.
This is more than simply approving some resolution; this is actively badgering the Board to impress upon Trustees that students cannot afford a tuition hike. The SGA should become an active voice within the media.
Presidential search
Nichol and Mouzourakis have the uncommon challenge of leading student government while the university looks for a new president.
In their meetings with Central Michigan Life, both stressed the importance of gauging student opinion during the process.
We would like to see immediate action on this issue. Administrators are only starting the search; however, Nichol and Mouzourakis can contact students to inform them that the SGA will seek their input throughout the process. The message could be sent via the student Listserv.
Considering that much of the search will occur during the summer, it is vital that the SGA makes contact during this semester, while students still routinely check their cmich.edu e-mail accounts.
From there, the Nichol and Mouzourakis should set up a Web site, complete with a forum, dedicated specifically to what students want to see out of their new university president.
SBAC funding
One of Mouzourakis' most impressive credentials was her facility with the Student Budget Allocation Committee, the group responsible for allocating university funding for students.
She stressed in her meetings with CM Life that the SBAC system needs to be more accessible to students. Now is the time to make those changes.
Before next year's SBAC funding is set, Nichol and Mouzourakis should see that the SGA's Web site includes a detailed and accessible breakdown of the funding: where it has gone in past years, how to make a request, eligible projects, etc.
This should be more than a simple spreadsheet that lists all the figures; it should be interactive and explanatory.
The money is available for students, but its current presentation is sub-par. With her knowledge of the budget system, Mouzourakis is the perfect choice to lead this charge.
