Bruins, reclaim student government!
By Joel Elad
Step right up! Give your attention to Kerckhoff Hall as the
undergraduate students’ association council presents another
performance of "Elections  The Game." More rumors. More mud.
More talk. Watch as candidates deny their candidacy until the
absolute last minute. Thrill to the mysterious fliers that spew
more dirt than a tractor pull.
Be mystified as people explain all the wonderful meetings
they’ve attended as if they’ve saved the world. Be amazed as they
tell you what you should be concerned with, and as they come up
with great-sounding, vague promises. And don’t forget the lovely
T-shirts, buttons, fliers and billboards along Bruin Walk. Yesiree,
this is one show you should definitely live without!
I am sad to admit that last year, I helped "produce" this show
by supporting one of the serious candidates through weeks of lies,
promises and games. In my view, almost everything said between
people on the council at that time was either a rumor to spread, or
sometimes the truth, because the other person was expecting a
rumor. Confusing, huh?
I have watched friends become enemies, lies taken as truths and
lots of time wasted on this game. It serves nobody and does nothing
but litter the campus and turn more of you away from the
undergraduate council because of rude campaigners or tacky and
hurtful fliers that spread hatred and division.
But elections are a necessary evil to allow you, the people, to
choose your leaders. You have the power to make a difference,
believe it or not. Most of you don’t believe me and I don’t blame
you. You feel the undergraduate students’ association council does
nothing for you and that it is ineffective, wasteful and a
joke.
One of the main problems with the council is the fact that its
constituents, the students, do not see it as legitimate. That
leaves the council pretty powerless. How can you be a force if no
one believes in you? Many councils overlook this and pass the
blame, pretending that the council will be better under their
leadership.
The fact is, the members of the undergraduate students’
association council must prove that there is a point and purpose to
the $1.2 million organization. Then, when students are truly behind
them, members can create a force that will be felt and
respected.
How do I know the council can be a great force? I got involved
because I saw its potential; I saw it could provide everything that
candidates promised. When I was involved, I was able to achieve
goals that helped and empowered people. If I had a concern with the
students’ association, I could go right to Executive Director Jason
Reed to share ideas and feedback.
By handling administrative and bureaucratic problems for other
council people, good programs succeeded and reached out, changed
people’s opinions, created feedback and helped people identify with
something positive. That brought me a joy that no class ever
could.
But the council’s endless workload, bureaucracy and lack of
organization and focus had its price. As the bureaucracy became
manageable, I dove in and learned as much as I could.
However, the workload drained my efforts toward my classes and
the inefficiency slowed down the progress and vision. So I left the
council to work on myself and my goals. But the council was still
in my head and a piece of me stayed in Kerckhoff, in the form of
few others who fought the battle to address their concerns.
While some worked, however, others decided they would throw up
programs just for the sake of having them. In my view, that’s the
best way to ruin a good idea. Give only a little time, thought and
planning to a potentially good idea and turn people off with poor
organization.
Since last May, the only dedication I have seen has been
people’s dedication to hold on to their positions. All most people
have worried about is preparing for the next election, promoting
people and giving them the promising appointments.
Imagine how I felt as a senior thinking I could have kicked back
in my work on the council and it wouldn’t have mattered to these
people. Over the summer, I tried to do what I could by giving
advice to those who asked and urging the council to reconsider how
they operate.
But the mistreatment and lack of respect continued and the
situation deteriorated for both the undergraduate council and the
students’ association. Members started seeing each other only at
the council table and communication seemed almost nonexistent,
especially with the students.
All I heard about Kerckhoff was rumors, opinions, and, oh yeah,
this guy’s definitely running for office. All this has made me
ashamed, to the point where I reconsidered what was important in my
life.
The point is, student government is about students. It’s about
those who put in the effort, plan programs and affect change, as
well as those who benefit and are served by the programs. Having a
concern for people and hard work can drive a government; otherwise,
it’s all talk and you’re out another $54 in fees for supporting
it.
Student government, in my opinion, has forgotten this, and it’s
up to the people to remind them. If you want something done, go ask
for it. Send a message to the "powers-that-be" that all is not
well. Don’t let me be the lone voice in the dark.
College is here to shape your life and teach you that you are
the controller of your own destiny. I feel that the undergraduate
students’ association council can positively influence your life,
but we must work together. We must change the game, take a stand
and speak out. If we succeed, student government will be legitimate
and have the power to affect real change. If we fail, at least we
can know we tried.
Sometimes, trying is the hardest part, but also the most
rewarding.
Elad is a fourth-year computer science and engineering
student.