Opinion: Letter
Practice what you preach, Karns
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In Hannah Karns’ article (“Time to shape up, ASM representatives,” April 9) she forgot one crucial point. The acronym ASM is wrong. It should read “RPA,” for Resume Padders Association.
The Associated Students of Madison is flawed on so many levels, however Hannah Karns — or, should I say, paid ($3,500) Chair Hannah Karns — wished not to bite the hand that feeds, but rather the people who cared. ASM can claim to have done nothing this year, absolutely nothing, unless you count spending large sums of money sating itself.
She asked to be held accountable. Well, here goes. In the job description for her position it lists one duty as, “Constantly reports to the ASM Student Council and ASM Coordinating Council and is an active participant in each body.” Where were you, Ms. Karns, for all the Student Council meetings this year? In fact, you have been absent for more meetings than me, go figure. I went to every Student Council meeting until it became obvious that Student Council ceased to exist in any meaningful capacity. I can remember you actively participating in only two meetings.
Here is one example of the apathy of Student Council from the Dec. 5, 2007 meeting minutes: “Chair Gallagher motioned to moved (sic) the [General Student Services Fund] packet to the floor. A second was provided by Chair Soulier. Chair Soulier then moved to call the question. A second was provided by Representative Walsh.” This would have led to an immediate passage of the budget without review if I hadn’t objected. It explains the “dedication” of the Student Council to managing segregated fees, the motto of Student Council should be: “Just pass it, bill students.” Without “a little more time reviewing” — as the ever-absent Ms. Karns would put it — this was a motion to approve all student organization budgets before the committee at once, without even looking at the budget. No review, no debate, no discussion. What is the point of even meeting?
A lack of judgment pervades ASM at Student Council. Like the attendance by only seven members of Student Council at a November meeting — I was one. Once again, Ms. Karns was not present. After that, it was obvious that the leadership was ineffective and ASM is for this year, again, a failure.
Since I quit Student Council there has been no graduate student representatives on the council. I don’t know how you can call it a student council if there are no reps for 15,000 of the 40,000 students on campus. The “student council” didn’t deserve my resignation letter; it had ceased to exist last fall when the leadership failed to address the multitude of issues with ASM.
I will gladly watch as next year your “student council” slowly degrades under the incompetence of leadership, lack of structure and failure to address student issues again. Maybe you will try to get a tanning salon or tattoo parlor in the new Union South to go with the grocery store that no one asked for.
Once again, ASM is irrelevant to all issues on campus. If ASM entirely shut down there would be no net effect on students as the organization serves only itself.
If you really want to make a meaningful change in ASM, make your first motion one that places a referendum before students asking for ASM to be disbanded. That would be real change — change students could count on to make a positive impact on campus.
Brent Maddux
Graduate student
bcmaddux@wisc.edu
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I don't believe that disbanding ASM is the answer. Changes need to be made; as students who care we should hold our representatives accountable. Speak your mind at open forum and work with representatives to make the changes you seek. Vote in students who will make a difference and work to get more of the student body to vote in the first place so actual representation takes place.
Well said Brent!
Here's my suggestion: ASM, you are officially on probation. It is a new session and it appears you have reached rock bottom. Either shape up or pack up.
Anonymous @ 3:13am
Apparently you don't grasp the concept of a broken system. ASM has to be removed like a cancerous growth on the University. Not talked to during 'open forum'. If I had to guess I would say you are at the ASM feeding trough yourself.
Wait, let me get this straight:
When you saw a problem with how ASM operated...you stopped showing up as opposed to trying to address the problem. Wow, that seems mature.
What exactly do these Representatives do?
-Costello-
I know what all ASM reps do... can you say resume padding?
-Abbot-
Anonymous @ 2:46pm
You didn't get it straight. I was there when Rep. Maddux said alot about the problems with ASM, and everyone was apathetic.
It seems to me that this is Brent Maddux's childish attempt to get attention by crying like a baby -- waa waa waa.
Brent uselessly verbally abuses people (and the system) when he should be working within the system. If Brent spent as much time addressing the issues as he did whining, all of the issue might get addressed.
Brent, whining gets nothing accomplished. Be a true leader and work within the system to seek reasonable solutions or work within the system to change the system.