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Reid: Next year, SGA won’t be the only letters at meetings

Published: Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Updated: Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:04

reid

Laura Reid

A big congrats and a good luck to all the new Student Government Association members elected for next year. The student body is counting on your fair decisions.

Unfortunately, I was unable to run because of an evening class that will take place during the time of the meetings.

But this is not about me, but about an organization that I think makes a huge difference to campus.

When I first joined this organization as a freshman who didn’t know much (or really anything), it was definitely different than when I left it.

I first entered the meeting with excitement and nerves. Excited that I was elected into a group of other elected officials, but nervous that I had no idea what had gone on before me.

I quickly learned that this is not a whimsical organization, but one that spent time and put reason into their decisions.

What helped me the most is the fact that the upperclassmen knew our freshmen dilemma and brought us up to speed before we had to vote. We were a community of decision makers who represented everyone, not just a few people.

At the end of my junior year, I felt that things had changed. Gone are the days where students came in with an open mind and a campus objective.

This assertion may be a little much, but the spike in Greek life in a campus-wide, election-based organization is not.

At the end of my junior year, there sat 14 Greek affiliates out of 22 members.

SGA has the responsibility of voting in campus-wide Judicial Board members. Verdict: seven out of the nine members were Greek, something many of our members didn’t know, at least those non-Greek members.

Also at the beginning of this year, we had to make an emergency meeting change because a Greek event ran during our regular meeting and the amount of members missing would result in lack of a quorum.
Normally, if there is an event members must go to, they take an absence and appeal it later.

So what about the seven of us who would have gotten an absence if the situation was reversed?

Well the debate ended on the fact that this is an once-in-a-lifetime deal.
Is it?

Currently, 13 out of 17 members will be wearing letters to SGA meetings next fall.

I think it is great that students are getting involved in such organizations; in fact I think it is great for alumni relation and community building inside the organization.

But when the amount of Greek life in a campus organization becomes disproportionate to the actual percentage of students in such an organization compared to total number of students on campus, this may cause a problem.

At the end of this term, decisions were still being made, perhaps not with the same vigor as my freshman year, and ideas were being thrown out by a select few but voted on by all.

Above all, a candidate ran uncontested for a top-seated position.
It is up to us, the students, to voice our concerns about campus.
It is also up to us to know whom we are putting in office.

Whether or not students are involved in multiple organizations or just a few, we make the decision on who we feel is best fit to take charge of our money.

We shouldn’t be afraid of speaking up for what we believe in, whether inside or outside the organization.

Good luck next year, SGA, the campus is counting on you!

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10 comments Log in to Comment

Drew Riebhoff
Mon Apr 26 2010 23:17
...talk about that and don't bring up the Greek students or title your article "SGA won't be the only letters at meetings."

But if your concern IS the number of Greeks, just say it instead of back peddling.

Drew Riebhoff
Mon Apr 26 2010 22:41
Laura,I suggest you decide how you feel about greek students being on SGA. In your article you bring it up as a concern because the number of Greek students on SGA isn't proportionate to the number of them on campus as a whole. But in your response to Tyson you say " I congratulate them, they are very bright students that have a lot to offer to SGA." but then turn around say you think it's a concern. And you also say "I personally like the idea of the greek community and involvement that Greek life provides to its members. "But then in your response to Bailey you once again say you have a concern about the number of Greeks on SGA and you have a right to share that concern.You also argue against yourself in the span of one sentence. First saying that back in your freshman year "no new person had to defend themself about why they don't speak up in meetings" and then later say that "the amount of people that speak up is only a select few, which worries me for the future of the government." Which one is it? You are correct, you do have a right to share your concerns. But at least stick with your opinion instead of going back and forth.But I also have a question. If this has been such a concern of yours, why not bring it up in an SGA meeting. Where your thoughts could have been heard by the senate and other members could have shared theirs, rather than waiting until the last edition of "The Simpsonian" to share your concerns, resulting in on-line comment banter.I also don't get why you're still so confused on the issue of the changed meeting time. Both Tyson and Bailey have explained it. If we would have left the meeting as scheduled, 14 members would have been gone. This included the student body VP (the person who runs meetings) as well as the president pro-temp (who runs meetings with the SB VP is absent). With 14 members are gone, business CAN'T be conducted. Which have left the rest of you sitting there, maybe talking about new business. But not being able to vote on anything, which then would have resulted in that conversation having to happen again, when everyone is there to conduct business. So, who's needs are we serving when a meeting is changed. The senate's AND the student body's. Because then, senate members aren't wasting their time going to a meeting where business can't be conducted. So, YES I believe it is fair to move a meeting to a time when business can be conducted, if the original time isn't going to be productive.You keep bringing up the fact that you've been a 3 year SGA member, well then you would know that in the last 3 ( and actually 4 years, including my terms) that having to move a meeting actually has NEVER been an issue. So, yes it is a special circumstance. You bring up the issue of J-Board and how 7 of the 9 members were Greek. First off, SGA doesn't vote them on. The Student Body President appoints them and gets approval from the senate. When I was approached by Stephanie Krauth about the issue of 7 Greeks, you should recall that I attempted to remedy the situation. I e-mailed every non-greek on SGA , (So I don't know why you're claim that non-greek SGA members didn't know about this.) And asked for their suggestions on if they also felt it was an issue and if they had suggestions on non-greek students we could get on J-Board. I recieved 2 responses from non-greek SGA members. And the students I attempted to get in contact in order to even out the number of Greek and non greek J-Board members did not respond. You talk about closed minds in SGA. I agree, I think there are a few members on SGA who only had in mind what they wanted to happen, not what was best for the campus. And as I recall, most of these members are actually non-greek already. And I can share more details about who these are with you in person if you want. I don't think it's necessary to bring their name into this on-line discussion.You raise the concern that it's always been "pick SGA or another organization" and that members get kicked off when they miss due to "unforseen circumstances." You're wrong. In my 4 years, the people who got kicked off weren't kicked off due to "unforseen circumstances" they were kicked off because they missed multiple meetings for the same reason every time; athletics,music or theatre. Three things on campus that those getting invloved already know it's going to be a time commitment. Laura, I think it's completely appropriate for you to have a concern about something you care about. But if you cared that much, in my opinion, you would have brought it up in a better forum than an editorial in a newspaper the last week of the semester. You could have brought it up during an SGA meeting this year, where we could have had a discussion about it and maybe worked as a group to see how we could increase the number of students who run for an office.So, please, maybe in the future be more clear about your concerns. If it's about the lack of students running for the senate, talk about...
Laura Reid
Mon Apr 26 2010 14:32
Thanks for commenting Bailey, and as I recall, I don't think I discredited the work that was done, but rather the lack of discussion on issues in SGA.

Also, I understand that being affiliated with many organizations is common, I am affiliated with many myself, but, unlike other organizations, SGA allocates money to these groups.

I understand what you and Tyson are saying about the changed meeting, but when you are doing that, whose needs are you serving? Like I said in my earlier comment, I heard through a couple of meetings that students had to choose between SGA and other organizations. Is it fair that a meeting that RARELY gets changed for ANYTHING can be moved for another event because quorum will not be met because of the overwhelming number of those people in that organization?

I'm sure that this article has offended many people, which was not my intention, and I am sorry that many of my friends in greek life might be questioning my motives, but when I have sat in that meeting room every Wednesday since my freshman year, that's 3 years, and have seen the change that has taken place, I think I have a right to speak my mind.

I am sorry that you say you are disappointed in me, Bailey, but I was simply stating fact in my article about the number of greeks in SGA. Why that particular organization? Because they are the most active, yes, but they are also what seem to be a closed off organization as well.

I think I am entitled to my opinion on the subject, and the reason I wrote it is because I am not alone on the issue. I do agree that more people should run, and for other reasons they might not be able to. But I think it is something that should be addressed.

Bailey Harris
Sun Apr 25 2010 13:44
...better SGA member. We’d all do well to remember that.

And Steven: you know I respect you and consider you a friend, but you have a bit of bias here, having lost to a Greek and no idea what it’s like to be on the other end of this argument. In fact, this article IS offensive, and had it been written about members of Res Life instead, I think you’d be inclined to agree. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished on SGA from wireless internet to felt on chairs, and I should NOT be discredited because of the letters I wear. The students voted in record numbers and they democratically decided who was the best candidate for each position. Deal with it. You both say that you are trying to encourage others to run, but you’re in effect discouraging people from running when you write such biased statements against the Greek community without considering the other facts, and I think you’ve defeated your own purpose in that regard. Perhaps next year there will be several athletes on the senate, and some misunderstanding individual will write a biased article about them. Being publicly scorned for getting involved would be an effective deterrent for anyone who’s a member of a larger group, and that’s just not right. Beware athletes, RLC members, and environmentalists—you could be next.

Genuine congrats to all those who were elected, no matter who you are. Thank you for your involvement, and good luck.

Bailey Harris
Sun Apr 25 2010 13:43
Laura, it’s been a pleasure working with you on SGA and I have always appreciated what you did for the organization, but I have to tell you I am extremely disappointed in you. You talk about how SGA members “used to” come in with an open mind, as if that has gone out the window. How open-minded are you being when you assume that just because someone is a member of a Greek organization they are more likely to be biased or closed minded? Not. At. All. I am proud to have been a member and leader of my sorority over the past four years, but I have been so much more than a Tri Delta. I have been president of three organizations and a very active member of several others. That does not encapsulate who I am. I am also an individual who cares about Simpson and wants what is best for my fellow students, and I have worked very, very hard to help them over the last two years. I don’t expect any less from other members. Not to mention, few years ago, I could have said the same thing you’re trying to describe about athletes and I could probably CURRENTLY say the same thing about members of residence life, EAC, or whatever! But I don’t because they are not just members of their organizations but individuals as well, and I know most try to avoid conflicts of interest because they are senators first when they are in that room. Also, it should be noted that the changing of meeting, as Tyson said, was done for the purpose of quorum and having a successful and productive meeting, and we would have done the same for any other group. It was an isolated incident anyway because we don’t provide funding or any other resources to Greeks!! And I take particular issue with this: “But when the amount of Greek life in a campus organization becomes disproportionate to the actual percentage of students in such an organization compared to total number of students on campus, this may cause a problem.” Last time I checked, Greek members made up around 30 percent of this campus, but well over 50 percent of campus involvement-closer to 70 percent if I recall correctly. Try and find an organization without Greeks in it. Our Greek system isn’t the typical “party-hard and do nothing else” scene. Greeks are by percentage more involved than non-Greeks, and I know for a fact that most Greek’s care a lot about their grades and set very high academic standards, just as other organizations do. We should each be treated like any other members of the campus community. Many members of the Greek community contribute to campus because they work hard and care about Simpson. And some of them DON’T. That’s the point—we are all different and shouldn’t be categorized. I, as a Greek member AND as simply a Simpson student, am not responsible for who does or does not get involved in campus activities. I have reiterated meeting after meeting that we need to get more people to run for office so that we have more competition, more diversity, and no uncontested seats. Check the minutes, it’ll be in there. But there’s only so much we can do. And guess what? No one runs. If Greeks care about campus enough to run for office, more power to them. If they beat out non-Greek members because they are better fit for the position, more power to them. If they lose to a non-Greek member who’s more qualified, that’s great too. Like any election, we should be more concerned with finding the best person for the job than we are about with whom that person happens to be affiliated. Do you think that if you brought this argument to the US House or Senate—and complained that we should stop letting Democrats run (no matter how qualified they are) because they are “overrepresented”—that anyone (tea parties aside) would take it seriously? Do you think that would be fair? This is no different. I respect your opinion and your argument, but I feel compelled to stand up for a community that has worked so hard and done so much for this campus, and I would do the same for any other organization whether I was a part of it or not—because I believe in being involved. I ask not that you put your overall opinion aside, but that you stop stereotyping Greeks and assuming that they are nothing more than just that: a member of the Greek community. Every student is so much more than what they are a part of; again, we are each individuals with our own personalities and belief systems, and Greek leaders should be given credit for that, just like everyone else. It’s like they say about national elections: if you don’t vote, don’t bitch. Same goes for this situation. If other people don’t care enough to run, then they can’t bitch about the people who DO care enough to do so. I totally agree, as I said, that far more people from all walks of life should be running for senate, but until that happens, don’t chastise those who do run. Spending—excuse me, WASTING—time fighting against a particular group of people rather than focusing on the actual issues at hand will get you nowhere and it does not make you a...
Meagan Gamble
Thu Apr 22 2010 21:58
I agree with you 100%, Laura, and I admire you for bringing a valid concern to light. The fact of the matter is that the numbers ARE disproportionate, and that needs to be changed. Not because there's anything wrong with Greeks running or being elected, but because it doesn't faithfully represent the student body, as I believe a student government should.

Thanks for everything you've done for us. I was proud to have you as our prez this year! :D

steven ramsey
Thu Apr 22 2010 17:45
Exceptional article Laura, very well articulated. Not offensive, yet not sugar coating the reality of the Simpson College Student Government Association either. I am honored to have served alongside you for the past three years.
Laura Reid
Thu Apr 22 2010 17:18
Tyson,

I would like to thank you for reading my perspectives piece, but I believe you seemed to have taken bits of my article and commented on it rather than reading it as a whole.

Back when I was a freshman, things ran differently. Everyone knew what was going on, even the first years. There was active participation among all classes, and no new person had to defend themselves as to why they never spoke up in SGA. Now, the amount of people that speak up is only a select few, which worries me for the future of the government.

As for the Greek component, I had in no way bashed greeks in being on the Senate. I only stated a fact as to the increased number of them in SGA. It is a personal concern, yes, but not one that is in any way offensive to the greek community. I personally like the idea of the greek community and involvement that Greek life provides to its members.

I realize what happened last year in SGA and the changed meeting. My concern is the fact that it is primed to happen again. As a freshmen, I saw members kicked out because of other unforeseen obligations (soccer games, music, etc.) and were told each time that they have to pick between being on SGA or being part of another organization. They were outnumbered when having to appeal absences. What I'm saying about that switched meeting is that it was a large group that was rallying behind this meeting change, not a soccer player or musician.

And about the election: you're right, Greeks ran for the offices, and I congratulate them, they are very bright students that have a lot to offer to SGA. My concern is what you said: others are not getting involved. I have in no way criticized anyone for running, why would I want to criticize a person for wanting to be a leader? I am trying to encourage others with the talents and skills of leaders to run as well. I just happened to mention the amount of Greeks running which might have then seemed like I was attacking a certain group.

As for you running unopposed: I am very glad that you won, and I believe you will do a great job in your elected office. My concern is that you did run uncontested, and it defeats the purpose of having an election if there are no opposing candidates. If people choose not to run, that's there problem, but they should understand that elections are for everyone who feels like they can make a change in their community.

It was never my intention to criticize any group on campus, I was simply stating my personal views. Since you have taken on the role of Vice President of the Student Body for next year, I trust you will listen to students' concerns and ideas wholly, and make the positive changes we would like to see on campus.

Thank you, and best of luck next year!

Kelly Grow
Thu Apr 22 2010 12:04
well said Tyson.
Tyson Wirtz
Thu Apr 22 2010 11:52
Laura:

First off, thank you for serving on SGA in the past and I'm sorry to hear that you won't be able to this year. I'm not sure exactly what direction you were taking this article so correct me if I'm wrong.

It seems that you are saying that "Gone are the days where students came in with an open mind and a campus objective." I take a bit of offense to that and I think that a lot of others would too. Just because a person is Greek does not mean they are not open-minded, and I'm truly sorry you feel that way.

Pertaining to the meeting that was switched: We talked a long time about this issue and what it came down to is that the Greek students were not going to be there. Everyone was willing to take an absence, but that wouldn't have solved anything. SGA is set up to serve the students, and if there are not enough SGA members there to have quorum then the group is not serving the students at all. If there were some sort of forum that required a large majority of the group to be gone, I think we would look at the situation in a similar way. The decision was made to do what was best for the campus as a whole.

Pertaining to SGA next year: Greeks ran for the offices and were elected. The offices are open to anyone on campus. It wasn't a matter of non-Greek students getting beat out, it was a matter of students not running for offices. I agree that this is a problem, but you can't blame this on Greek Life. I think that rather than criticizing Greek Life for getting involved with SGA, you should criticize students who don't get involved and later complain. Also, I am sorry that I ran unopposed, but that once again I don't think you can blame the people that got the offices.

Once again, I appreciate everything you have done for SGA and I hope that you will continue to be active in advocatiing for student rights.

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