2008 Woodie Awards
Briefly Mentioned
Joshua Seiden
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Oversight committee discussed
Executive board members, student senators and organization representatives recently debated the aims of a committee to oversee Student Government Association (SGA) officers.
"We passed a resolution last year to form this committee," said SGA President Sean McClain at the Sept. 5 SGA meeting. "It's not necessarily to evaluate the performance of us, it's to evaluate the performance of the job."
The African American Student Association Social Chair James Gilmore said, "It seems to me that a lot of this is being left up to the discretion of the people on the [executive board]."
Noting a lack of senators volunteering for the committee, McClain raised the option of allowing general students to participate. He asked for suggestions as to what exactly the committee should evaluate, noting it had not been previously established.
Residence Hall Student Senator Adrienne May said, "I think it would be a great idea to get other students involved. I think it would elevate it to a point where it's not just senate evaluating this. There's no rule against it."
May said the committee should base its evaluations on the job duties of the executive board as outlined in the SGA constitution.
McClain said he did not believe the intent of the committee was to serve as a "watchdog" of the executive board, but rather to evaluate the board positions and keep salaries "in line with the realities of today."
SGA Controller DaRon McGee said, "I wrote the legislation last year when I was a senator, and that was the intent: to be a watchdog."
The issue was tabled for further investigation.
Funding for Debate, Mock Trial teams pondered
McClain proposed cutting funding to the Debate and Mock Trial teams, stating the teams do not operate as regular student organizations.
"We have talked about not funding these organizations for the last three or four years, but we still continue to fund them, because no one wants to pay for them," he said. "I think it's not our concern. I mean it is, but it's not."
McClain said SGA should cut funding to the teams to "send a message to the administration" that someone else has to cover the costs. Cutting funding to the teams would free up an additional $64,000 for student organizations, according to McClain.
Bridgett Johnson, coordinator for the Activity and Program Council and member of the Debate team, said the Debate team does function as a student organization and has already suffered funding cuts despite consistently finishing among the best teams nationally.
Gilmore, a member of the Mock Trial team, asked, "Since our president doesn't have correct information, can we table [the issue]?"
McClain said he did have correct information, but the issue was tabled.
jds8t2@umkc.edu
Executive board members, student senators and organization representatives recently debated the aims of a committee to oversee Student Government Association (SGA) officers.
"We passed a resolution last year to form this committee," said SGA President Sean McClain at the Sept. 5 SGA meeting. "It's not necessarily to evaluate the performance of us, it's to evaluate the performance of the job."
The African American Student Association Social Chair James Gilmore said, "It seems to me that a lot of this is being left up to the discretion of the people on the [executive board]."
Noting a lack of senators volunteering for the committee, McClain raised the option of allowing general students to participate. He asked for suggestions as to what exactly the committee should evaluate, noting it had not been previously established.
Residence Hall Student Senator Adrienne May said, "I think it would be a great idea to get other students involved. I think it would elevate it to a point where it's not just senate evaluating this. There's no rule against it."
May said the committee should base its evaluations on the job duties of the executive board as outlined in the SGA constitution.
McClain said he did not believe the intent of the committee was to serve as a "watchdog" of the executive board, but rather to evaluate the board positions and keep salaries "in line with the realities of today."
SGA Controller DaRon McGee said, "I wrote the legislation last year when I was a senator, and that was the intent: to be a watchdog."
The issue was tabled for further investigation.
Funding for Debate, Mock Trial teams pondered
McClain proposed cutting funding to the Debate and Mock Trial teams, stating the teams do not operate as regular student organizations.
"We have talked about not funding these organizations for the last three or four years, but we still continue to fund them, because no one wants to pay for them," he said. "I think it's not our concern. I mean it is, but it's not."
McClain said SGA should cut funding to the teams to "send a message to the administration" that someone else has to cover the costs. Cutting funding to the teams would free up an additional $64,000 for student organizations, according to McClain.
Bridgett Johnson, coordinator for the Activity and Program Council and member of the Debate team, said the Debate team does function as a student organization and has already suffered funding cuts despite consistently finishing among the best teams nationally.
Gilmore, a member of the Mock Trial team, asked, "Since our president doesn't have correct information, can we table [the issue]?"
McClain said he did have correct information, but the issue was tabled.
jds8t2@umkc.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Joshua Seidon
posted 9/10/07 @ 10:47 PM EST
What happened to the old Briefly Mentioned? I think small bits of news from all around is much more interesting than one long piece. And why is the faculty senate covered in a full article, but the Student Government Association (,which is just as important/if not more to students,) is only covered briefly?
Post a Comment