I’m baaack. I’ve been meaning to post something for a while, but when things got extremely busy this went to the bottom of my list. I wasn’t sure if it was useful to anyone. Well, if no one else reads it… this one’s for you Erik! Thanks for your e-mail. 

The past semester working with ASM serves as a testament to the fact that we must switch to a Presidential system. The student government would be far more effective with a more delineated structure where people have specific tasks. Right now, we have a few people trying to do everything. Some years when we get particularly motivated people, things are ok, but not nearly as effective as they would be if people could spend their time focusing on certain things. 

For example, the Chair is supposed to sit on/preside over the following 8 committees: preside over Student Council, preside over Coordinating Council (all of the committee chairs), sit on the Student Activity Center Governing Board, sit on Nominations Board, sit on the Reserve Board, sit on the Student Print Board, serve as a member of Union Council, serve on the Constitutional Committee, in addition to other committees as they arise (Conference Committee if selected, and any ad-hoc committees… right now we have one that is reviewing staff job descriptions and re-drafting them, and I’m chairing it). This also doesn’t include any search and screens. 

Then, there are the regular meetings… weekly hour-long advising meeting with staff, meeting with interns (I had 2 last semester), meeting with the Dean/Associate Dean, monthly meetings with the Chancellor, other meetings with ASM staff and committee chairs, meetings with people interested in getting involved, and meetings with any people for HR/personnel reasons (i.e., DRAMA). 

This is in addition to running and overseeing the government. Then, there are often external events to attend (Student Reps meetings, consisting of all the Presidents/VPs of all UW System schools, various campus events, and sometimes United Council events). Add on top of this reading and responding to over 75 e-mails daily, taking phone calls, going to class, and trying to have a life (ha…right). 

Now, I’m not making a laundry list in order to commence a pity-party for myself. I truly enjoy a lot of it. I list everything to point to the fact that we NEED to give people more direction and focus. The new Constitution does just that. With the Senate and the Executive branch doing different things, people will have a specific area on which they can focus. For example, the Chair won’t have to draft legislation that attempts to address an issue occurring on campus (i.e., campus safety). Rather, they can spend their time working to get things done for the government. The Senators will be attentive to the students on campus and will draft policies to ensure that change occurs. The executive body will get things done. We currently have a few people who do everything, but in order to get more people invested in more meaningful ways, it would be extremely helpful to have delineated jobs for individuals. 

Why would Senators be any more invested than Student Council representatives currently are? One could certainly make the argument that it will still be a group of resume-padding individuals serving solely to make themselves look good. But, we’re putting in a lot of work this year to try to change the mentality of the way people conceptualize and approach Student Council (what will be the Senate). There’s so much behind the scenes that goes into creating change in an organization. Unwritten rules and certain mentalities that have existed for years (clown suits and glitter, if any ASM-ers read this) are extremely difficult to change. Hours go into conversations with staff and other students in order to get people to budge and challenge their old way of thinking. Even more time goes into adjusting and working with people in order to make things happen. Not everything about the “old” mentality is bad, so it’s a constant negotiation and development of ideas in order to try to come up with something that will be the most effective student government. I think we have made significant progress this year, even if it’s not measurable by concrete victories and changes (although we have had several). 

The ad-hoc committee I’m chairing will give Student Council members an advisor. The benefits of such a position cannot be mitigated. Instead of our staff focusing on solely elections, advising, and advocacy, we’re giving more responsibility to students in key areas (recruitment drive) and obtaining more of a focus from staff on Student Council/Senate member development. This part of ASM… the key decision-makers and elected representatives of the government… will not longer be disregarded as insignificant. We will have a staff member who will not only attend meetings, but work with individuals in order to ensure that they have the resources necessary to be the most effective that they can be. This is a huge mentality shift in ASM! Right now, Council gets disregarded by many (staff AND students alike) as frustrating and not worth their time. Isn’t it a bit contradictory as these people are ELECTED by students to make decisions for them? Student Council/Senate members NEED to have more attention and resources from the government in order to succeed. 

In addition to a staff person, I’m working to develop meaningful trainings for representatives. This will include information about the government, but will teach them how to work with press, how to write legislation, how to get things done. This is a drastic difference from the training that has occurred for the past (however many) years. Usually staff puts on a “training” that doesn’t adequately prepare people to be effective leaders. 

So many people are focusing on the new “dictator.” ha, right. I certainly acknowledge the risks associated with a Presidential system, but we are putting more (even if it’s more in terms of internal reform as opposed to explicit language in the new Constitution) into the Senate in order to empower individuals in a meaningful way. The transition team I will be leading this spring will ensure that elected representatives have a way to contribute to the government and not solely serve as resume padders. 

Ahh, well, I could keep going on forever once I get started on ASM. Nerdy, I know. Anyway, I’m back. I’ll post the agenda for next week’s meeting once I put it together today or tomorrow. I’m off to writing a few resolutions…. what a fun Saturday! haha.