Acorn

Issue date: 11/12/06 Section: News

 

Mandating Student Government Association senators to attend sporting, Theme House and club events was a hot-button issue at Sunday's SGA meeting. 

Junior Sergio Paredes, University Senator senior Jen Hudon's proxy, initiated a discussion about the office hour policy for SGA senators.

"I think it's important to, in addition or in place of office hours, making the by-laws mandatory attendance at certain events that the constituents have," Paredes said.

"As an elected official, part of [a senator's] duties is to be aware of what your constituency is doing and support [them]."

The efficiency of office hours was also discussed.

"Office hours have been pretty much pointless since I've started doing them," Junior Class Senator Jennifer Schoepflin said. "I haven't seen one person."

SGA President Matt Troy asked the Senate to figure out ways to reach out to constituents.

"Even if it means going out to see them," Troy, a junior, said.

Freshman Class Senator Stephen Yellin disagreed with Paredes and considered the possible amendment unfair.

"It's important that students get a better outlook of what's happening at Drew," Yellin said. "But it doesn't mean [senators] should be forced to go to every single event under our agenda."

Riker Senator Brian Wright said the amendment would reflect poorly on the SGA.

"Our attendance will show that we're doing it because we have to and not because we want to," Wright, a senior, said.

According to the current SGA by-laws, "All university and class senators must hold an open office hour at least one hour every two weeks, publicized via voicemail or e-mail."

Paredes said senators should attend events that would count for their office hours, instead of sitting in the office every two weeks.

 "[Senators] should make a proactive attempt to reach out to our constituents," Junior Class Senator Kristin Bruno said.

University Senator Ryo Kuroki said senators should meet their constituents rather than force constituents to seek their senators.

"We are making the effort to say we care, we are true leaders, we want to know what's going on," Kuroki, a junior, said.

"And one [event] every two weeks is not a big burden."

Yellin disagreed.

"If [students] want their say in the SGA, then they ought to be coming to the meetings-not people coming to them hand on foot," Yellin said.

Paredes appreciates the steps senators took in facilitating the Drew Discussion on Theme Houses.

He said senators should also support Theme Houses by attending their events.

"I think it's the SGA's responsibility to support their constituencies and facilitate discussions on the constituent level, and not Theme Houses or small numbers of constituents," Sophomore Class Senator Max Tynan said. "We're talking about the whole of the student body and-not 12 people in a Theme House."

The exchange of words between Paredes and Tynan turned into a disruptive debate and Vice President sophomore Dara Goldberg intervened to end it. She said Tynan made his point clear and did not have to continue speaking.

Yellin agreed with Tynan.

"I was elected to represent my constituents-My job is to listen to the freshmen's concerns," he said.

The constituents Yellin spoke with are not concerned with small club interests on campus, he said. "[Constituents of mine] are concerned with sanitation problems and the fact that our bathrooms are crap-sometimes-and how they want soap and-paper towels," he said, asking Paredes to look at him when he speaks.

The discussion became a personal side chat between Paredes and Yellin, as they interrupted and debated each other. Goldberg broke up the debate, disallowing further personal chats.

After Goldberg intervened, Yellin left the meeting. Yellin said he went to the bathroom and did not return because he didn't want to reinitiate the debate with Paredes.

"I realized I was less than courteous with my argument with Sergio," Yellin said.

The discussion ended, after Bruno motioned to close the speaker's list.  Goldberg, ultimately, reminded the Senate that amending the by-laws requires the presence of the entire Senate and a two-thirds majority vote.

Other discussions included a change to the Forest Flix Bill and an update to the Last Lecture Series.

"We're really not getting a lot of responses back from the Graduate [and] Theological [Schools,]" Attorney General junior Andrew Cronholm said. "We're going to-go ahead with the first series and make it strictly CLA faculty-not really by choice, but just to get a series out."

Regarding the Forest Flix Bill, Treasurer Nhuong Son said the mailroom desk will distribute DVDs.

Son, a sophomore, said students could check out DVDs at groups.drew.edu/sga/dvd/.

Troy expressed satisfaction with the website and the progress of the SGA committees.

Ending the meeting, Troy said, "If we work together, we can succeed together."

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