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Student Government looks to provide students with new voice
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Also by Steve Schwerbel:
- Democrats losing liberalism to GOP (January 27, 2006)
- Dissecting the Republican revolution (February 10, 2006)
- Iran not threat West perceives (February 24, 2006)
- U.S. needs ally in India (March 9, 2006)
- Student Government looks to provide students with new voice (March 31, 2006)
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The era of the Associated Students of Madison is over. ASM was a vain, bloated, corrupt and inefficient body that served no one but the resume-padding careerist hacks who profited from the corruption in which they wallowed.
ASM's bureaucracy was a corpulent mess of groups with no checks and balances in the system whatsoever. ASM holds all power — there is no appeal beyond it. The Student Judiciary can punish ASM members who break the rules, but consequences are minimal at best and can be overturned by ASM.
The elections committee, whose miserable failure in simply carrying out a free and fair election, was further proof. When asked who provided oversight for the committee, the reply was, "The committee oversees itself!"
The current student-fee system is also out of control. There is no mechanism to even allow ASM to reject or reduce any budget. Countless money is wasted on organizations that provide no service to students. ASM's twisted view of viewpoint-neutrality forced representatives into a position in which they could not say "no" to even the worst student organizations.
At the same time, ASM was forced to give out hundreds of thousands of dollars to undeserving groups; those groups who did deserve money were virtually prohibited from doing their own fundraising. These groups were completely dependent on the system.
Corruption ran rampant in ASM. While serving as a student representative on ASM, Cedric Lawson not only did not attend the university; he received money he shouldn't have. This possibility for corruption goes unchecked because of the general incompetence of the ASM representatives, who care more for petty bureaucratic fights than for truly serving students.
Candidates and groups have attempted reform for decades. Matt Modell fought vehemently for students' rights against ASM oppression. Numerous candidates were elected last year on a reformist platform. However, these leaders have been blocked in their efforts for reform by the careerist resume-padders.
This can no longer stand.
Over the coming weeks, the Student Government will be holding listening sessions for you — the students — to air your grievances against ASM. We also welcome ASM members — if you can prove there is something worth salvaging, we invite you to try. We will use your suggestions to craft a constitution that reflects a streamlined, efficient and clean vision of government.
We will be writing a constitution that represents you. We will institute a streamlined government that strips away bureaucracy and petty infighting. We will enact major student fee reform, ensuring transparency and integrity in funding. We will guarantee clean, honest government that is competent and honest. And, at all times, we will take your feedback, opinions and input.
We have only one request. In your deck of cards, there is a joker card. If you are fed up with ASM's garbage, if you don't care about what ASM does, if you want a fresh organization that will work for your interests — pin the joker on your bag or your clothes.
ASM has forfeited its right to be taken seriously. Atlas has shrugged — Student Government.
Together, we can create a good government. We look forward to serving you.
Steve Schwerbel (sdschwerbel@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in international studies, political science and history. He is chair of the Constitutional Committee of the Student Government.
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Well put.
I'll have a joker on my bag.
and we're supposed to assume that Student Government isn't full of vain résumé-padding hacks why?
Way to go steve. You have the support of all of the students out there that don't vote in ASM elections because ASM is BS!
Here is a suggesting return Student Governement to the mindless club status it inhabitated prior to the 1970's. Teaching 18 year olds how to spend other people's money should not be a part of the education process. They become to comfortable with taking what they have not earned while waxing on about the needs of the many over the rights of the one.
What a petty publicity stunt...disgusting.
There's a reason you're referencing Ayn Rand - You're a bunch of fascistic little College Republicans who have had this idiotic dream of eliminating student government for years!
what makes you think anyone will even vote in the election to form student government and disband asm? and what makes you think anyone will even vote in student government's elections?
Anonymous (March 31, 2006 @ 8:25am):
and we're supposed to assume that Student Government isn't full of vain résumé-padding hacks why?
Anonymous (March 31, 2006 @ 8:44am):
Way to go steve. You have the support of all of the students out there that don't vote in ASM elections because ASM is BS!
Anonymous (March 31, 2006 @ 9:33am):
Here is a suggesting return Student Governement to the mindless club status it inhabitated prior to the 1970's. Teaching 18 year olds how to spend other people's money should not be a part of the education process. They become to comfortable with taking what they have not earned while waxing on about the needs of the many over the rights of the one.
Anonymous (March 31, 2006 @ 10:05am):
What a petty publicity stunt...disgusting.
Anonymous (March 31, 2006 @ 11:30am):
There's a reason you're referencing Ayn Rand - You're a bunch of fascistic little College Republicans who have had this idiotic dream of eliminating student government for years!
Uhhhh yeah you're all pathetic ASM asshole hacks.
Well, College Republicans aren't the only people who hate ASM...
"and we're supposed to assume that Student Government isn't full of vain résumé-padding hacks why?"
Steve, the leader of this movement has nothing to gain from this but time wasted. He is a senior and he has never been in ASM.
"What a petty publicity stunt...disgusting."
So you are for the disgusting status quo? So you are for no recognition of the structural problems of ASM? If a petty publicity stunt is the opposite of your positions here then I applaud it.
"There's a reason you're referencing Ayn Rand - You're a bunch of fascistic little College Republicans who have had this idiotic dream of eliminating student government for years!"
Wow, how progressive of you to throw out statements that distract from what progress needs to be made! This is supposed to be Madison! Yes let us be reactionary and against necessary change.
ASM is flawed; it needs to be fixed or overthrown. I am sorry your partisan narrow-mindedness cannot see that...
Not just a dream but once a reality that the real fascists on the left couldn't let stand. You may want to re-discover Ayn Rand's work if you think she was a fascist. She was not as most any libertarian would point out to you. Student government used to be a joke and should be returned to joke status. The rest of the students should not have to keep paying the price caused by the hippies who opposed the vietnam war.
"fascistic"
I don't even think that's a word.
fascism: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
taken from webster... so explain how getting rid of the government makes the republicans facist? please? anyone?
"so explain how getting rid of the government makes the republicans facist?"
it's just like how the college republicans call centrist apologist Democrats communists for thinking that people shouldn't be treated as slaves.