2008 Woodie Awards
The year that student representation died
Jessica Cavalieri
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: Opinion
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The school year of 2006-2007 will go down in history as the year that student representation died at Idaho State University. As a student who holds no position within ASISU student government, I have watched with both interest and disgust as the student Senate, Executive Branch, and Supreme Court-all three branches of government, have ignored the will of students in favor of what they themselves want. Never before have I witnessed such selfish and elitist behavior as that exhibited by all three branches of ASISU government.
Student representation has only been offered by a minority of student senators and far too often, their dissenting votes and voices have been ignored, maligned, and laughed at. This is unacceptable.
The first obvious example can be traced back to the Reed Gym Option 3 ($22.2 million option-the most expensive of the three) vote that took place on October 30, 2006, wherein the student Senate voted (12-8) to approve Option 3, but thankfully sending it to a student referendum as well. The students, who have grown tired of increasing fees, overwhelmingly (69.4%) voted down Option 3.
That same referendum featured a proposed new constitution for ASISU. The new constitution, a document that would remove some checks and balances and allow itself to be amended far too easily did pass, but encountered several problems and as of now, we are still operating under the "old" constitution.
On January 22, 2007, the student Senate voted (11-8) to approve Option 2 without sending it to a student referendum. In fact, Senator Kelissa Borrowman, College of Education, "called for the vote on Option 2 after denying a friendly amendment to put the issue up for a referendum vote" (Bengal. 1/31/07). Former Senate member (Senate Pro-Tem) and ASISU Vice-President, Trevor Jensen, stated, ""This is the most arrogant, indefensible vote that I have ever seen taken by ASISU. It's a sad day in student representation when the minority of ASISU is representing the majority of students (Bengal 1/31/07)." Indeed it was.
Student representation has only been offered by a minority of student senators and far too often, their dissenting votes and voices have been ignored, maligned, and laughed at. This is unacceptable.
The first obvious example can be traced back to the Reed Gym Option 3 ($22.2 million option-the most expensive of the three) vote that took place on October 30, 2006, wherein the student Senate voted (12-8) to approve Option 3, but thankfully sending it to a student referendum as well. The students, who have grown tired of increasing fees, overwhelmingly (69.4%) voted down Option 3.
That same referendum featured a proposed new constitution for ASISU. The new constitution, a document that would remove some checks and balances and allow itself to be amended far too easily did pass, but encountered several problems and as of now, we are still operating under the "old" constitution.
On January 22, 2007, the student Senate voted (11-8) to approve Option 2 without sending it to a student referendum. In fact, Senator Kelissa Borrowman, College of Education, "called for the vote on Option 2 after denying a friendly amendment to put the issue up for a referendum vote" (Bengal. 1/31/07). Former Senate member (Senate Pro-Tem) and ASISU Vice-President, Trevor Jensen, stated, ""This is the most arrogant, indefensible vote that I have ever seen taken by ASISU. It's a sad day in student representation when the minority of ASISU is representing the majority of students (Bengal 1/31/07)." Indeed it was.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 24
Rebecca
posted 4/24/07 @ 10:58 PM MST
This is an excellent article.
Michele
posted 4/25/07 @ 8:34 AM MST
It's too bad the student body would rather watch their rising fees go to who knows where (something called upkeep, or misc, or 'other') than take control of it and put the fee rise towards something like Reed Gym. (Continued…)
Sammy
posted 4/25/07 @ 9:11 AM MST
I think the Peforming Arts Center and Rendevous Building are both nice.
Brooke
posted 4/25/07 @ 10:20 AM MST
This article finally tells the truth about student government. Student Leaders should start listening to students instead of making decisions that will simply benefit their popularity. (Continued…)
Rachel
posted 4/25/07 @ 12:44 PM MST
Bravo! Finally someone who actually does their homework! Nicely written article. Thanks for voicing my opinion as well!
Melissa Cisneros
posted 4/25/07 @ 3:06 PM MST
Bravo to Jessica Cavalieri and The Bengal newspaper. Finally they printed something worth reading this year. Sargent, Brown, and Wheat are birds of the same feather, don't trust them. (Continued…)
lucy
posted 4/25/07 @ 5:05 PM MST
I could not have said it better myself. You speak for the majority of students here at ISU
Mike J
posted 4/25/07 @ 5:18 PM MST
I am a current student here at ISU and have been upset, along with many others, at how the student government is being run this year. People were really hoping for a change next year, but obviously it will be "business as usual". (Continued…)
Freddy
posted 4/26/07 @ 11:55 PM MST
You could not be more right! I totally agree! I just am so glad an outgoing senior had the courage to print this in the last issue of the Bengal. Very good, BRAVO!
Marry
posted 4/27/07 @ 12:12 AM MST
This is a great article. Namely because it causes even more divisiveness' at ISU. I think we should oppose other students at all costs. There is no amount of dissent that can lead to a totally disconnected student body. (Continued…)
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