Dennis Michael Busch - Official Website
By Dennis Busch, collective opinion of the
University Journal Editorial Board
EDITORIAL: Journal backs the SUUSA restructuring
Tuesday marks the end of the special elections to amend the SUUSA Constitution, and the University Journal Editorial Board is publically endorsing the restructure.
In the past week, the Journal has taken umbrage with some of the decisions made in the execution of this restructure, particularly a rushed special election.
Our concerns focused on what we saw as a lack of information on the election itself, and were not directed at the majority of the changes.
Though we have our differences at times, the Editorial Board thinks the officers of SUUSA are dedicated and honorable individuals who work hard to make sure that SUU students are well represented.
SUUSA leaders have invested a lot of time in this restructure, soliciting outside advice, student input and heeding suggestions when offered.
When an objection was made over the termination of the Judicial Council by the Student Advocates group, SUU government listened and kept the council in a more independent role in the new proposal.
Other concerns have been over the power of a non-elected funding committee overseeing SUUSA’s external funding grants.
However, Artice III, Section 4, Item C of the proposed constitution calls for the SUUSA Senate to approve all decisions made by the funding committee.
The committee’s procedures would be created and approved by the Executive Council and Senate, both being elected bodies.
We also appreciate that Artice XII, “Trasnparency in Governance” is being kept.
It requires SUUSA and its officers to follow the Utah Open Meetings Act and the Government Records and Access Management Act, thus keeping all students informed about the actions of SUUSA.
Many argue that the changes fall far short of perfection for administering an organization.
Salvador Dali once said, “Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.”
The SUUSA Constitution is one of the most fluid policies at SUU, and has been changed numerous times in its history, and some of these changes will not be permanent, trust us.
Despite our endorsement, there is one part of the restructure that the Journal is disappointed with and does not support, and that is the reduction of the number of senators to one per college.
SUUSA has stressed that the use of volunteer department representatives will counterbalance this decrease of positions, and that the elimination of senators will save money.
However, we think the amount a person is paid should not dictate how many positions there are, as students do not join SUUSA government for the
big paycheck.
Though we have had our hesitations, the Editorial Board is pleased to give our support to the SUUSA restructure amendments.
We encourage each student to get educated and make an informed, personal decision when heading to the polls.
Links to the proposed changes and online ballot are available at suunews.com.
In the past week, the Journal has taken umbrage with some of the decisions made in the execution of this restructure, particularly a rushed special election.
Our concerns focused on what we saw as a lack of information on the election itself, and were not directed at the majority of the changes.
Though we have our differences at times, the Editorial Board thinks the officers of SUUSA are dedicated and honorable individuals who work hard to make sure that SUU students are well represented.
SUUSA leaders have invested a lot of time in this restructure, soliciting outside advice, student input and heeding suggestions when offered.
When an objection was made over the termination of the Judicial Council by the Student Advocates group, SUU government listened and kept the council in a more independent role in the new proposal.
Other concerns have been over the power of a non-elected funding committee overseeing SUUSA’s external funding grants.
However, Artice III, Section 4, Item C of the proposed constitution calls for the SUUSA Senate to approve all decisions made by the funding committee.
The committee’s procedures would be created and approved by the Executive Council and Senate, both being elected bodies.
We also appreciate that Artice XII, “Trasnparency in Governance” is being kept.
It requires SUUSA and its officers to follow the Utah Open Meetings Act and the Government Records and Access Management Act, thus keeping all students informed about the actions of SUUSA.
Many argue that the changes fall far short of perfection for administering an organization.
Salvador Dali once said, “Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.”
The SUUSA Constitution is one of the most fluid policies at SUU, and has been changed numerous times in its history, and some of these changes will not be permanent, trust us.
Despite our endorsement, there is one part of the restructure that the Journal is disappointed with and does not support, and that is the reduction of the number of senators to one per college.
SUUSA has stressed that the use of volunteer department representatives will counterbalance this decrease of positions, and that the elimination of senators will save money.
However, we think the amount a person is paid should not dictate how many positions there are, as students do not join SUUSA government for the
big paycheck.
Though we have had our hesitations, the Editorial Board is pleased to give our support to the SUUSA restructure amendments.
We encourage each student to get educated and make an informed, personal decision when heading to the polls.
Links to the proposed changes and online ballot are available at suunews.com.
© 2010 Dennis Busch, University Journal
