What delicious irony.

At about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, a nearly full Student Congress listened to executive vice president Layne Rouse describe ways to make the Students’ Association more relevant, noting that at its spring retreat, many members said the student body considers SA “a joke.”

Ninety minutes later, a nearly empty Congress saw proof of that perception.

For the second time in as many semesters, our governing body sent us a powerful message: they do not care about us, nor about our money, $111,000 of which is “on hold” because 24 members found something better to do than serve the students they promised to serve.

And maybe that something was church-in which case members of Congress must decide whether neglecting their duty and being poor stewards of their funds are excusable actions in the name of an activity that can be done in one’s own residence hall at any time.

Should members feel so compelled to attend their weekly traditions, church or otherwise, that they cannot consistently or adequately represent the student body, they should resign. And the sooner the better.

And the student body, at whom Congress has yet again thumbed its nose, should take its leaders to task. Mabee Hall residents should ask Rep. Kyle Chenoweth why he hasn’t attended a meeting since Nov. 12. Don Morris Center majors should ask Rep. Kasidy Geistweidt the same question.

Likewise, the senior, junior and freshman classes need to ask their senators why only one from each class cared enough about the students to vote on their money. Senior Dave Ruiz, junior Kathleen Pi–a and freshman Jake Roseberry should be commended, along with all five sophomore class senators. The other 12 senators-half of those who broke quorum-should be ashamed.

At a time when the administration is cutting positions because of a lack of funds, this is no time for absent and hurried members to play games with our money. After all, some employees in the Department of Academic Advance or the Learning Enhancement Center may have some suggestions as to what can be done with $111,000.

Congress apparently needs a wake-up call-one that should have been given by the executive officers when this happened last semester.

Impeach members who have missed more than three times-as required by SA’s Constitution, shorten the pre-business portion of the meetings and count absent those who leave before voting.

Otherwise, the student body will continue to label SA a joke-and will be fully justified in doing so.