Editorial: Student Senate makes progress but needs better communication
United Students has made headway, but stalled proposals pose problems.
KANSAN
Monday, December 3rd, 2007
When United Students emerged as the top coalition in last spring’s Student Senate elections, the student body trusted that it would make progress in bringing its various platforms to fruition. Halfway through the year, United Students has made admirable progress in some areas, but there is still room for improvement before elections in the spring.
The most immediate praise for Senate is in its successful campaign to increase student parking access to the Student Recreation and Fitness Center. The proposal, drafted and presented by Ray Wittlinger, Olathe senior and student body vice president, allows students without yellow permits to park in the SRFC lot for a period of up to three hours at a time. As of next semester, when the proposal will go into effect, students should be able to utilize the SRFC more during the day without worrying about parking.
Another target of Senate’s this past semester is the University’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal downloading. Senate has suggested to administrators that the policy isn’t being adequately enforced, and has set up a task force to investigate the issue.
Two of United Students’ platforms, implementation of a dead week and improving technological access for students on campus, are currently in the middle of their proposal periods.
Regarding a dead week, the University Governance’s calendar committee is debating the feasibility of even allowing a single stop day, leading Hannah Love, Dodge City senior and student body president, to realistically expect opposition. While Senate’s proposal, written months ago, is ready to go, administrative decisions beyond Senate’s control may prevent it from getting passed.
Love is also polling students at the University in order to convince administrators that technological access on campus is necessary for a well-rounded learning experience. Once this polling is complete, Senate will begin work on a formal proposal, which in the original platform included less expensive software costs and more technology in classrooms.
In addition to progress, Senate also faces several uphill battles in the next few months.
University Governance failed to pass legislation that would change the grading system of credit/no credit courses. Under the current system, passing constitutes having a grade of A-C. The legislation would have allowed students to pass with a grade of A-D. This setback forced Love to place a proposed ‘“A” Guarantee’ plan on hold for fear that it wouldn’t pass.
United Students also placed emphasis on sustaining a more environmentally friendly campus in their election platform. Recycling was the keystone goal here, including adding permanent recycling bins to Park and Ride lots. Love delegated this issue to the Environmental Advisory Board and has yet to see if they have made progress with it.
This general lack of communication, more than the success or failure of any one platform, is United Students’ largest flaw. It is imperative that Love and Wittlinger each know exactly where their coalition stands regarding the progress of their platforms.
The most disappointing action that Senate has undertaken this year is the $20 fee increase due to inflation. $20 is not an outrageous sum, but is still important considering the coalition’s attempts to stave off fee increases and the general rising cost of University attendance.
Overall, United Students has generally had a successful semester, with few of its letdowns the coalition’s fault. There is plenty of time to reevaluate the ‘”A” Guarantee” plan and the implementation of a dead week, and the student body should know the progress of the recycling initiative.
What’s important is not that these proposals are stalled now, but that they come to completion within the next few months, and that coalition leaders successfully communicate amongst themselves and keep the University abreast of progress. The only obstacle keeping United Students from another successful campaign season is itself.
Discussion
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You've got to just be kidding me, editorial board. United Students (home of the most over-ruled Student Body Vice President ever) is just this "super awesome" (I know you didn't use those exact words, but it was the best I could make out with whatever that object in your mouth is...) and the only thing stopping them from winning the campaign is themselves?
And not a mention of the Delta Force senator majority?
If your coverage of the old SS stays this great into the campaign season, the student body will learn more from sidewalk chalk than your drivel.
The article seemed pretty fair to me. Except for the part about United Students somehow being responsible for the $20 in fee increases ---- not sure how that works.
United Students seems to be doing a pretty decent job. As long as they keep working in the next semester, they should be in pretty good shape in April.
I take it from reading all your previous posts that you're part of United Students, or sleeping with someone in United Students (or formerly sleeping with someone from Delta Force who cheated on you).
If you just serve to go around shouting "ra-ra" United Students all year round, please don't claim this to be "fair". It is crap, like most of the Senate-related Kansan writing.
jordan williams i was wondering if you being a theta chi is why the editorial board is lying about united students being good. i mean- maybe you like ray wittlinger and their next vp mitch knopp, but they are not good. everyone who has ever gone to senate knows they are bad ppl. shoot. mitch's bro andy is the worst student body president the students have had other than hannah luv, and they united students are just trying to use him as a safety net of 'tradition' i never met u, but i saw you on that youtube debate and thought you seemed like a better guy than to cheat for your friends but maybe you are just a politician lackey like everyone else who does not use fact to back up opinion
thnx
"Recycling was the keystone goal here, including adding permanent recycling bins to Park and Ride lots. Love delegated this issue to the Environmental Advisory Board and has yet to see if they have made progress with it."
Hey, look I'm using my real name! Hannah Love has never mentioned to me that SEAB should work on making permanent recycling drop-off points. However, KU Recycling has been trying to find a permanent location for the Recycling trailers since my sophomore year (FY06).
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