Every year following the annual transition of Student Government (formerly Student Confederation) officers, The Eagle reflects on its own experiences in covering AU's student government and makes suggestions to the new SG officers. It is hoped that by considering what we have observed, they will rise to the challenges of the summer and coming academic year. Many on our editorial board have worked extensively with government officers and with the University.
While we do not claim to be as well-versed in its methods as those working in the SG today, we hope that our insight and experience in reporting on the SG will help the new officers fit in and hit the ground running.
President Kyle Taylor:
In 2003, Taylor replaced Emily Town as SG vice president and ended up doing an admirable job, earning an A from The Eagle for his performance.
Now, Taylor is SG president, the elected leader of the students. We hope that Taylor will use his personality and people skills to run an effective SG. The campus needs a leader that can rally support for causes as well as encourage school spirit. A great start would be the sports after-parties in the Tavern he campaigned for.
The administration often seems distant from the students who pay its salaries, but a good voice for the students will keep the playing field level.
During the campaign he promised to bring committees of students together to facilitate communication. Our hope is that Taylor will follow through with this campaign promise and actually seek input from these groups.
Keeping students informed of events is also important, and we hope Taylor follows through with plans for daily calendars and weekly appearances on ATV. After a presidency as approachable as Polson Kanneth's, a step back in terms of visibility on campus will be noticeable.
Vice President Leah Kreimer:
Kreimer ran for vice president as a GA outsider, based on her experience running the Jewish Student Association. For all the advantages of being an outsider, Kreimer will be at the disadvantage of having to learn SG procedure and politics.
Kreimer was very successful in programming with the JSA, and programming will be the focus of her SG job. We hope she will use her experience and ideas to give students great campus events.
The majority of her time will be spent on student programming, and our hope is that Kreimer uses her experience from JSA for the betterment of AU. She should also remember that she was elected to do a job and that she needs to put her heart into it. GA political machinations can be frustrating for newcomers. Kreimer needs to keep her cool, maintain a positive and outgoing mindset, and give her all for the SG and for the students.
Failing that, at the very least it would be nice for Kreimer to follow Jason Trombley's lead and actually complete a term as vice president.
Comptroller Zach Ulrich:
Ulrich is clearly knowledgeable in his role as comptroller and should be able to do his job. However, Ulrich's personal skills will be tested in the SG.
Ulrich resigned as deputy comptroller under Moamar Tidjani in the fall, saying he felt he was not helping students. As a leader, it will fall to Ulrich to make sure his co-workers and underlings are being used and being useful.
One of the reasons students have a low opinion of the SG is because of their lack of understanding of what goes on. This is especially an issue when money is concerned. If Ulrich runs a public and transparent operation and keeps things simple, the student body will have a better understanding of and ultimately more interest in the SG.
Secretary Joe Vidilich:
It's good to see some new blood in the SG, and we hope Vidilich, or Viddy as we like to call him, brings his trademark enthusiasm to the secretary's desk.
Viddy's predecessor, Jamie Rea, did a good job of communicating with students, especially freshmen, and hopefully he will pick up where she left off.
Just a freshman now, Viddy will likely be looking to move up in the SG ranks in the next few years. If he is wise, he will keep his eyes and ears open at all times and learn about how the entire SG functions, not just his own position.
The GA:
The student legislative body needs to do a better job of letting its fellow students know what it is working on. Many people dismiss the GA without a second thought, and this is at least partially due to the long-standing reputation of the GA as comprising self-important tools.
If its members want students to care about the GA, they must be proactive in communicating what they are doing and be approachable.
In conclusion:
Don't let these newly won positions go to your head. Your first responsibility is to the student body, not to your r?sum?. You are not Congress, you are not Congress, you are not Congress. Try to keep your campaign promises, but be realistic. Try to set some goals, perhaps one big one, and stick to them. Make yourselves relevant to students - hang out with them, talk to them, and don't be afraid to leave the office. The Eagle will be watching, and just as all of us are graded in the classroom, your actions will be reviewed next April.
