Student Government insider Cait Douglas was appointed as acting secretary of the SG this week, beginning a period of transition following Alex Manzanares' resignation last Wednesday. Douglas, a former Eagle reporter covering the SG beat, has served as one of President Joe Vidulich's chiefs of staff this semester and has already begun to assume many of Manzanares' duties, such as writing press releases and editing the SG Welcome Week magazine. The Eagle is confident in her competence and her ability to handle the position.
Douglas will serve as acting secretary until the end of September, when Vidulich hopes to recommend a new secretary to the SG Applications can be submitted starting today. A panel of SG members, headed by Student Advocacy Center Director Rick Edwards, will review the applications and submit its recommendations to Vidulich by Sept. 19. Vidulich will make his selection shortly thereafter, and the SG will confirm the candidate by the end of September.
In an effort to increase diversity and participation, Vidulich has opened the application process to all AU students. While the effort toward openness is admirable, SG members still dominate the application review board, and Vidulich will ultimately choose the final selection to be confirmed by the Undergraduate Senate. The student body historically elects the SG secretary, and by loading the review panel with SG members, Vidulich removes a crucial student voice from the democratic process.
However objective the panel may be, it still lacks the perspective of fresh eyes and minds. Other student leaders, from the AU Club Council to the Residence Hall Association, would bring valuable opinions to the panel. Surely there is someone willing to represent these groups' views. The Eagle can only hope for transparency and cooperation in the selection process if Vidulich is to avoid Manzanares' parting charges of nepotism in the SG.
