A look at Student Government with Bob Bajek/Student Government Editor

Dear fellow readers,

Last night’s Student Senate meeting was the last of the academic year. Unfortunately, it was a grandiose version of what has happened–or not happened–this year.

In Student Body President Levi Bulgar’s State of the University Address, he said, “Leadership is action, not a title.”

Looking at what Student Government has done this semester, the only tangible accomplishments they had was creating the Students Distinguished Teachers Award and lobbying for the proposed Renewable Energy Center.

Student Senate Speaker Drew Griffin’s said in his State of the Senate Address that it has “been a good semester.”

How, Mr. Griffin?

Is it positive that senators Olivia Brauer and Ron Jordan resigned and other senators like Luis Alarcon and Paul Reid did not attend senate meetings?

Is it positive that Alarcon’s resolution for more volunteer work in the Charleston community was pulled and senate volunteering has been almost none existent outside of its own Panther Service Day?

Is it positive that Mike Whildin’s University Development and Recycling Committee only plants a tree for $150 instead of working with the Citizen’s for Recycling to improve off-campus collection of recyclables?

Is it positive that the recent Student Government election received only 6 percent of the student body vote while both parties broke election guidelines and the Election Commission lacked the power to correct anything?

Griffin said the senate serves the students. However, he criticized the student body for not attending the Student Government events and forums. Could a possible reason for this be the cutting back of Student Government advertising  and replacing it with unreliable word-of-mouth?

Please remember, readers, it is important to look at what your representatives do, not say.