Campus Senate

The Current | March 1, 1999

The campus senate: a vital asset to the students

On March 4 and 5, the student Senate elections will be held. Recently, there has been considerable discussion on this campus regarding student participation in the Senate: the poor attendance of student Senators at current meetings, the lack of respect felt by some students from faculty members of the Senate, and whether student seats on the Senate should be reduced or eliminated all together. As a current member of the Senate and a member of the election committee, I would like to share my thoughts on each of these areas of discussion. I feel that the poor student attendance at Senate meetings is indefensible. I also believe this poor attendance speaks to the heart of the other two issues being discussed. We, as students, have to own up to the inherent responsibility of running for and being elected to a seat on the Senate. I understand that as students we have deadlines at school to meet as well as jobs, and perhaps, family obligations to attend to. These other considerations, however, should be taken into account prior to deciding to commit oneself to running for the Senate position. Once the decision has been made, I believe it is our responsibility to attend the Senate meetings on a consistent basis.

I have felt some of the lack of respect students speak of as members of the Senate. I felt it at the beginning of this year when I first became a member of the Senate. I do not feel any lack of respect, however, today from faculty or administrators with whom I have become acquainted through the Senate meetings or on the Budget and Planning Committee to which I was elected. In fact, I believe that our mutual respect for each other and our diverse viewpoints is growing through our participation, especially on the committee. I, therefore, have come to see that respect is a two-way street. Showing up and participating allows students, faculty, and administrators to get to know and understand each other. That is how mutual respect develops.

I have very mixed feelings on the elimination of student seats from the Senate. One discussion suggests reducing the student seats from 25 to 15 in order to give staff access to representation on the Senate. Since I believe all stakeholders need to be represented, I tend to favor this suggestion. The proposition that students should be eliminated from the Senate entirely, frightens me. I think it should be a great concern to all students, whether any of us choose to exercise our right to participation or not today. Students have the ability to bring a perspective to the Senate that cannot be represented by faculty, administrators, or staff members. Even if that doesn't seem important to a majority of students today, I believe we need to preserve the right for future students to have their perspective heard. Future students may find their education lacking without such a voice. To retain those seats for future students, I believe it is our responsibility to keep that option alive by showing up and participating if we choose to run for an elected position.

The purpose of this letter is twofold. We need volunteers to help with the election process. Students who are willing to help can contact Sue at the Senate office (516-6769). Also, students have an opportunity to demonstrate responsibility by committing to voting at the elections on Mar. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University Center, SSB lobby, or Marillac Hall; from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Evening College, SSB lobby or Marillac Hall; or on Mar. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University Center, SSB lobby, or Marillac Hall.

I am tired of hearing that student apathy is one of the major problems on this campus. The only way I know to disprove such accusations is for enough students to participate in governing bodies such as the Senate. Through such participation, attendance will necessarily improve and the issue of respect for students can be resolved.