Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Student Body President-elect Mason Heilman, Lawrence junior, has a full year to work on his coalition’s platform issues and to implement changes on campus. Here’s a look at the previous administration’s promises and achievements. The Kansan evaluated the coalition on a grading scale, based on the success of its platforms.
New Pool — poor
United Students said it wanted to add a new pool to the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. The coalition planned to pay for the addition with money from the Athletics Department, donations from KU alumni and a short-term expansion of the Women’s and Non-Revenue Sports fee.
While Adam McGonigle, student body president, said progress had been made on developing plans for the pool, he said the pool would not be built on schedule because of the current economic climate.
“I think it would have been irresponsible to move forward with that timeline, but we were able to preserve the work we did so that in two years, when we’re hopefully in a better financial situation, we will absolutely be able to move forward,” McGonigle said.
Campus Parking — moderate
The coalition also presented a plan to offer free parking on the top level of the Kansas Union parking garage to students without passes after 5 p.m. and on basketball game days.
No changes have been made to parking in the garage, but McGonigle said other parking issues had been addressed. Students are now able to park at the meters outside of Watkins Memorial Health Center for free.
“I think that was one of our bigger accomplishments,” McGonigle said. “It was something that didn’t cost money and opened up a vital service to students.”
Improved Enrollment system — poor
The coalition said it wanted to improve the enrollment system by providing additional information such as textbook prices, prerequisites, degree requirements, labs and open class times as well as offering a drag and drop system. United Students also said it wanted professors to provide midterm grades to students so they would know where they stood in their classes.
McGonigle said that because the University’s contract with its enrollment program wouldn’t expire for several years, it was not yet possible to make these changes. He said Michael Gillaspie, Ashland senior and student body vice president, worked to compile research on how to improve the current system, to provide to the administration when the current contract expired.
Wireless Internet in housing — moderate
McGonigle and United Students originally said implementing wireless Internet throughout residence halls was a project that could be completed without a student fee increase. After taking office, McGonigle found that this was not the case.
Jennifer Wamelink, associate director of student housing, said all residence halls had some access, but only in shared spaces. For some halls this was the main lobby and for others this included floor lobbies.
McGonigle said that as wireless technology became cheaper it would be more feasible to shift money spent on the current system to wireless Internet.
Self-Defense — good
During last year’s election, Gillaspie said he would make it a priority to start a free self-defense program available to women on campus.
This year, Gillaspie said he had already received all necessary funding and had made arrangements for the event, though an official date had not been set. He said he expected the event to occur annually.
Lighting, Security Cameras — poor
United Students said it wanted to use money from the Campus Safety Advisory Board reserve account to increase lighting behind Strong Hall and in places with high student populations on and off campus, such as Emery Road and Tennessee Street.
Felix Zacharias, Wichita junior, who chairs the Campus Safety Advisory Board, said the board would begin scheduling meetings within the next week to work with the School of Engineering and the City of Lawrence to address lighting needs.
“There’s definitely a good chance that this promise will at least get addressed seriously before the end of the school year,” Zacharias said.
Energy-Efficient Buildings — poor
United Students said it wanted to reduce energy use in buildings such as the Kansas Union, recreation center and Watkins. It said it wanted to require that staff use fluorescent light bulbs, shut off computers at night and turn down air conditioning or heating at night.
“I don’t think we made as much progress as we wish we would have,” McGonigle said. “Frankly a lot of the easiest things to do, like use fluorescent light bulbs, are already done. Watkins and the Union, for instance, and the recreation center have been very proactive about reducing their own costs and have already implemented those practices.”
McGonigle said that in the future he would recommend Student Senate better integrate its efforts with those of the state and nation as a whole.
— — Edited by Casey Miles
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Comments
Student Senate gets report card
United Students wins elections by getting freshmen to vote for them. That's why they sweep the Fr/So seats every year. Every year they lose badly in Jr/Sr votes. I don't think this is just a coincidence.
Student Senate gets report card
If this were an academic report card, with poor = Fail, moderate = C, good = B, and excellent (as in completed/finalized/accomplished and nonexistent on this report) = A, Adam McGonigle's Presidential GPA would be a 1.0 and he'd be placed on academic probation. Considering the fact that the one project receiving a "good rating" was Michael Gillaspie's, this looks even worse.
On the other hand, Gillaspie is looking pretty good with his self-defense project and the "be a chancellor for the day" raffle for charity. I think it's clear who the brains behind the operation was this year.
Student Senate gets report card
This information would have been helpful a week ago.
Student Senate gets report card
It's unfortunate that this report does not accurately represent the whole body of work performed by the Student Body President and Vice President in one academic year.
I bet the Kansan also gave Munch and Dunlap a "Poor" rating at the end of their term for implementing a guaranteed tuition plan. This plan was too important to be pushed through in one academic year. However, because of the work they did that year, guaranteed tuition (a.k.a. Tuition Compact) is now a reality at KU.
I bet the Kansan also gave Yoder a "Poor" rating when the Rec. Center he promised wasn't built in his one academic year term. However, today not only is that center a reality but his name appears on a court in the expansion. An expansion Knopp and Bell promised and I bet they too were given a "Poor" rating at the end of their term when it was not built. Obviously, now that expansion is complete because of their hard work.
How did the Kansan rank Ng and Malone when they promised to construct a new Multicultural Resource Center? Let me guess... Poor, because it was not built that year. Because of their dedication and work today we have one of the finest MRC's in the country.
Year after year the Kansan fails to accurately review the work that administrations have put in day after day to make campus better for students. It is not always about bricks and cement going up. These people represent students in meetings with the Chancellor, Provost, Vice Provost, and every other administrator while important decisions are being made. These decisions help students on a daily basis but because they cannot be physically seen and have no price tag, the Kansan deems is failure. In the future, let’s hope that a journalist from the UDK steps forward to research and analyze the term of the SBP and SBVP in an in-depth way. Examine their accomplishments beyond the few platform bullet points used during the campaign. Include the representation they have offered on behalf of students and please review the impact they have had on the hundreds of student organizations who received necessary funding during their term.
Anyone who steps forth to run for these positions, whether they win or lose, deserves credit for the effort they put forth to help KU students. They may not always be able to help them the way a Kansan reporter would like, but they are honest, hard-working and devoted public servants for the student body.
Student Senate gets report card
"They may not always be able to help them the way a Kansan reporter would like, but they are honest, hard-working and devoted public servants for the student body."
Are we talking about the same thing as student senate? Just checking.
Student Senate gets report card
Jarrodm,
Didn't you graduate? If so, why are so still commenting on a student newspaper? Loser...
Student Senate gets report card
A witty retort...
Student Senate gets report card
"Examine their accomplishments beyond the few platform bullet points used during the campaign."
Fire the Senate Treasurer during the most critical financial time of the year for petty political reasons - Poor
Build bi-partisan unity within Senate - Poor
Stay awake in elections commission hearings - Poor
Student Senate gets report card
shutchins11 - you may find this incredible, but some alumni actually like to keep up with what's going on at KU. Those alumni also have opinions, which is good because when it comes down to it, I'd rather hear an opinion from someone who's been around the block a few times than from some freshman. And thanks to the tremendous power of the internet and the wonderful Kansan.com comment board, JarrodM can comment on articles all the way from New York City. Now let's all take a second and thank Jarrod for sharing his wisdom with us. Thanks Jarrod.
Student Senate gets report card
What's with the smack talk? Graduated or not, Jarrod is extremely intelligent and has had a ton of experience within senate. I am glad people like him still read and comment.
As far as this article is concerned, I do not think they should be rated Poor on the pool project. Adam and his staff worked really hard on that platform, and had to set the project aside - wisely - because of financial constraints. A lot of work had been done on it, and it's not his fault that the global economy started stumbling. I don't care if people agree with the project or not, no one can deny that he worked really hard on it.
Student Senate gets report card
Platforms serve one purpose: getting attention during the election season. For the most part, we can't credit or discredit the administration for what happens.
Wireless in Dorms: Student Housing is well out of the scope of Student Senate. Sure their is a Residential Senator, but the decision making is with DSH and the real input comes from the Hall Governments. It isn't US's fault that there isn't wireless in the Dorms.
Energy Efficient Buildings: What were they going to do? The purpose of this platform was clearly just to appear green. AMac said it, most departments already implement energy saving tactics.
Security Cameras and Lighting: The campus safety board has been suffering for many years. In order to achieve anything in conjunction with the city, there are loads of red tape and hoops to jump through. Again... who wouldn't have voted for safety?
Self-Defense Courses: Something the campus safety board of 07-08 did well. They put in the work to make these courses happen. Not Adam or Michael. This illustrates the other half of my point.
The Pool: Ahh... the most "contentious" and "divisive" platform that US 07-08 had. False. Plans to create a new pool have been on many University minds for many years now. It isn't a surprise that the pool wasn't built. If the project actually started this year, it still wouldn't be a surprise. The choice to use the pool as a platform reminds me of a Class President in High School promising Pepsi Vending Machines. I'd at least give US credit for raising awareness about the project.
So by what measure should we grade the administration? I don't know. To answer that we would first have to ask ourselves, "what are they suppose to be doing?" Spend some time around Student Senate. Join a committee. Observe what they do, what they don't do, or maybe when they aren't there. And if they weren't their, try to listen when they tell you, if they tell you, where they actually were and what they were doing.
My Final Thoughts
The Student Senate Executive Staff needs to be reorganized if not dissolved. I've been a Senator for 3 years and I couldn't tell you what the President does. Not sure what some of them are paid for. Most of their work could be delegated. All of these platforms could have been accomplished by Student Senators working together. More people = more hours = more efficient work. They could have even done the other coalitions' platforms. After all, I don't remember Connect or Students of Liberty being opposed to Campus Safety or Energy Efficient Buildings. Yet Student Senate relies and even expects the President and his/her administration to accomplish all this. Sure, its fair to expect this of them. They are paid. They were elected. But Senators were elected too. They might not be paid, but who would pay them after what they have accomplished? The point is, Student Senate as a whole deserves a "poor" rating.
Student Senate gets report card
Don't lump the Senators and exec staff together as "useless" and "lazy." You should come to a meeting sometime and you'd know that a lot of the body is neither. Are some senators? Yes. Are some members on the exec staff? Yes. But not everyone.
Student Senate gets report card
I thought United Students had the platform of a National Championship, a Sugar Bowl, and a Big 12 Football Championship ? Don't they control all of this? I will rate them POOR also! POOR
Student Senate gets report card
I'm really getting tired of saying, "I told you so."
Also, more for your consideration:
McGonigle/Heilman following the campaign regulations they passed - POOR
US following the campaign regulations that were not new and that they had violated the previous year - POOR
In sum, Student Senate is controlled by people who do nothing but spew empty rhetoric, cheat, and lie their way to the top in an incestuous display of corruption and cronyism.
Some in senate may have good intentions (as I believe Mason does), but the overwhelming perception that this is some game that they are playing, like children playing house to get ready for having a family, has turned even the best senators into spineless yes-men. This is no game, this is my money.
Also, I would like to say that this article would be virtually unnecessary if the voting database SoL proposed was created. I hope that senate will be willing to work with me on this project in order to kill the childish personality contest that is student elections and finally have something that resembles a democracy.
Student Senate gets report card
Hey Jack Connor, SHUT UP!!! Also, I agree johnmurr, this article woulda been VERY helpful a week ago!
Student Senate gets report card
@jbrooks
I didn't say they were lazy... useless? Maybe I implied it. But my point was it was an unorganized and inefficient effort.
Student Senate gets report card
It was in reference to Hot4Teacher's previous post: "johmurr is right. The article is good, but you guys really dropped the ball on timing. All in all, though, the Kansan is the most respectable student-run institution on campus, so I give you guys some leeway. Unlike senate, who are useless and lazy."
... Also, most respectable student-run institution on campus? How about Center for Community Outreach (CCO)?
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