By Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief
Student government will move away from last year’s activities- and rules-oriented approach this fall, said Jeremy Smith, executive president of the governing body.
Instead of focusing on parliamentary procedure and constitutional details, Smith said he would direct elected officers to find out how they can best serve the students-with an advocacy-centered approach that was lacking last year.
“One of the things I want to hit hard this year is getting things done for the students,” Smith said. “SA has spent a lot of time on things in the past that I think the students don’t care about, like the Constitution, rules of order.”
This comes as SA prepares for another round of elections to determine the makeup of the 81st Congress. Petitions for freshman, residence hall and academic representative elections are released Monday and due back Friday, with the election being held Sept. 3.
Also on the ballot for next Tuesday’s election is last year’s ISA Amendment, which creates a special liaison seat for the International Students Association. The amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the student body to be ratified. Because of the 10-day notification requirement, SA began publicizing the amendment Saturday so as to get it on the ballot 11 days later.
SA’s first meeting will be Wednesday, although Smith said Congress’ legislative agenda will not begin until the induction of the freshman officers a week later. That agenda includes leftover by- laws changes proposed by junior president Ashlie Clark when she was chair of the Internal Affairs Committee last year.
Smith also announced some committee changes: Constituent Relations was moved from a standing committee to an executive council, giving it permanence and allowing elected officials to serve there. It joins Appropriations and Advocacy as executive councils. Election Rules and Internal Affairs will both be given temporary standing committee status. Smith said he would form those committees as needed and then disband them after the need had passed.
