It seems there are two issues that 'people' are having with the SGA.
- President Mark Snyder over break wrote up a new constitution over Winter Break (with limited input from the SGA?) which
- removes the MHEC (Maryland Higher Education Council) Representative position. Without discussing it with the current MHEC Rep...
- changes the requirements for running for President/Vice President of the SGA that they must be on campus in the Spring Semester if they want to run.
RE: Issue 1: Apparently (via unsubstantiated rumors [via I didn't go]) the current MHEC-bro Mike Hullett did not know that there was this proposed change until the meeting and got upset and had the SGA table (AKA make everyone wait ANOTHER week to vote on it) the measure. Not really sure why he wants to get rid of the position, or discussed it with the current dude regarding whether or not we should have it.
RE: Issue 2: Some speculation that this is via he does not support the White/Reighart ticket, and did this out of spite (via they are currently abroad, but this would not affect them). Not all that likely via I don't think he is that silly/childish. Other more reasonable reason behind it is probably that he feels that the new Prez should be trained. Regarding Mark Snyder and training, from an anonymous SGA member: "also, if mark is so concerned about training maybe he should have trained his senate" via the lack of legislation (srsly they need more legislation like this wonderful piece of legislation regarding All Capital Letter Emails).
One anonymous bro said on this issue "I think many talented student leaders who have put in their time at SMCM and took advantage of its great study abroad offerings should not be penalized for going abroad the semester before their term would start. The student body should not have to be managed in this way, we should be trusted enough to give power to any student leader, even those who have decided to study abroad for a semester. We know who can represent us well and those who run for this office take it seriously. Extra regulation like this is completely unnecessary and rather offensive when it seeks to possibly limit the chance of a qualified, well-intentioned student leader to lead the school if the student body so wishes it."
IDK Blog-readers. What do yall think? Are people taking SGA too srlsy???
AMEND THE ALL CAPITAL LETTER EMAILS LEGISLATION SO THAT THEY HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY READING THE EMAIL BY SHOUTING IT AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS AT THE CAMPUS CENTER.
ReplyDeletere: the whole being abroad thing, if people aren't around to even know what the issues are on campus for a whole year before/not able to be trained wouldn't they be doing a disservice to the people they're supposed to be representing?
ReplyDeleteagreed
DeleteFair points!
DeleteCounterpoints:
Via internet and Constituent emails it's easy to know about issues on campus
SGA Training occurs in the Fall
I never understood why the MHEC rep (or Student Trustee) gets a seat in the SGA - it is not an elected position.
ReplyDeleteMark and I talked about this back when I was student (tears) the Spring thing had to do with having the incoming Pres/VP run meetings and understand the duties before they take over the next year. It would, as your anonymous SGA member pointed out, let the Pres/VP better train the Senate so they are not learning on the job like Mark and Kate did.
Glad to see the desperately needed cleaning of the SGA constitution won't get personal and nasty!
Only four positions on the Executive Board are elected.
DeleteYeah agreed, there is definitely an argument for it. I think the anon comment was referring to the need to have a 'training session' during the year to explain to the Senate what sort of legislation they should be drafting.
I'll do my best to rumor monger and slander people~
Student Trustee and MHEC get non-voting, non-legislative seats in SGA to serve as liaisons between SGA and their respective groups. They are their to keep the SGA informed, and to hear student issues to take to the Board/Council.
DeleteAlso last year in SGA the MHEC rep brought up a really good point once after attending a meeting with other Maryland colleges and gaining some perspective on the ways in which St. Mary's differed. Her comment sparked a yearlong debate and some solid legislation on an issue that remains unresolved, so I could definitely see how having the MHEC rep around is useful
DeleteTHE REAL CRISIS WAS WHEN YOU WERE VICE PREZIDENT
ReplyDeleteBA-ZING
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In prehistoric times, I decided not to apply to be Student Trustee because I wanted to go abroad, and I remember that it was rather frowned upon for the Student Trustee in Training to be gone for a semester when they were supposed to be training for the job. That is not to say that I would have gotten the position, of course, but studying abroad was very important to me and is something St. Mary's really prides itself on. Luckily, this was not an issue when I decided to run for Vice President (from Paris, like Andrew!) and I'm glad its not an issue anymore for Student Trustees like Maurielle and Alex.
ReplyDeleteI guess my question to the SGA now is this: if we as an institution value study abroad to the point that it qualifies for the ELAW requirement, how can we ask that our student leaders not participate? If we try to tone down the restriction, would studying abroad (or doing an internship/taking a semester off for personal reasons) in the fall of junior year be accepted? What if the program the student wanted to attend was only feasible during the spring semester due to different semester schedules in different countries? It's true that having two candidates run from abroad is not ideal, but restricting it now doesn't seem fair.
I wish there was a like button on this blog.
DeleteThere is that Google +1 Button
DeleteThe Plan...............
ReplyDelete<3 u prez
DeleteWow, the sga really went down hill now that Matt Smith left.
ReplyDeleteSGA needs more metal heads
DeleteMatt Smith went down hill when he cut his hair
Deletewhoever said we didn't get trained obviously isn't in the Senate; we had a really good workshop that went over the budget, some procedure stuff, and how to write legislation.
ReplyDeleteThis person is definitely in the Senate so IDK
Deletealso in the senate, that workshop was mark breaking us into small groups and having us "workshop" sample legislation, just a look at how much legislation has been introduced and how many informed debates there have been since should demonstrate how useless that was; colvin is the only senator who actually interfaces with his constituents regularly and brings up their concerns, maybe mark should have realized that there's more to being SGA president than telling kids what "whereas" means and slapfighting with mike hullet?
DeleteAntonio Colvin is my senator, and he is the best thing since sour cream on baked potatoes. Why is he not president? He should be president instead. NEW LEGISLATION.
Deleteanonymous 2:17, I've said before I'm more than willing to help people write legislation, I helped Maurielle with the original Public Safety Advisory Board legislation. If you feel like you have an idea and want to bring it to the Senate come to me. We had a brand new Senate with one returner, we were dealt a pretty crumby hand and have tried to do the most we could with it. I'd also point to the amount of "meaningful" legislation that usually happens in the first semester the last couple years: hint, there's not much. The important stuff happens second semester once people have a better handle on how the Senate works. I'm sure we'll have some solid stuff come through the Senate from people who will take the initiative to reach out and get help if they need it.
DeleteAs to the fact that there's more to being President than telling kids what whereas is, that's right on the money. I think Ken, Marlena, Justin, and Lisa will tell you that's true and a lot gets done behind the scenes that people don't see.
At the end of the day the people I've seen be really successful in the Senate, like Becky and Alex Walls, are the people who have put a lot of effort into it. So if you want the Senate to be successful you should reach out to me, instead of complaining on here, right? This doesn't help anyone, and at the end of the day that's why we all volunteered to serve.
Prezzes don't do anything at the meetings, instead they spend hours a week at meetings doing stuff. Just like how real prezzes don't really come to Congress all that often. IDK if that was a good analogy.
Delete<3 MARK SNYDY PANTS
ReplyDeleteOK, stop with the via. Seriously. It's annoying as fuck.
ReplyDeleteI should say that I'm in SGA, and I've been to almost every meeting this year.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, with regard to the new constitution, SGA members were given two weeks to read a five-page constitution and 20 or so pages of bylaws. People besides Mike Hullett did find things to debate and ask about. But seriously, two weeks is more time than I get to do class readings, and those take much longer to read.
As far as last semester goes, there were a LOT of staff speakers re: The Mold, so by the time they were done, which often took a long time, nobody wanted to talk about anything else. This semester, we haven't had as many speakers, but the ones we've had also speak for a long time. Senators ask questions, and the answers get around. A big part of SGA is being in the know.
A lot of what happens when we do debate isn't any one person's fault. Yeah, sometimes we rush through procedure, and sometimes debate gets childish and people dwell on a particular point. I can't make excuses for why there isn't legislation, but I think that this post will either guilt people or remind them that legislation is a big part of SGA, and that they should submit stuff, so thanks.
But if SGA members are complaining about a lack of debating, there's no reason for that, not when Mark or Kate says something every meeting about writing legislation, and how there are people there to help as well.
Rad
DeleteLOLZ someone just reminded me of that time mark snyder ran for SGA senator when he was planning on being off campus
ReplyDeletetrololololo
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