Opinion: Editorial
The real ‘State of the ASM’
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On April 15, six Associated Students of Madison representatives gathered in a barren classroom to tout their minuscule accomplishments to three reporters. By the end of the ill-advised “State of the ASM” address, our student government lost whatever legitimacy it had left.
The fact that outgoing ASM Chair Gestina Sewell seemed confused as to whether the event was publicized could have been reason enough to ask for her immediate resignation. Their total failure to organize and represent the student body can no longer be tolerated.
Thankfully, some new ASM leaders share this sentiment. In a statement released last week, 14 members of the incoming ASM Student Council agreed to five points for reform they say “are only the first few steps in an effort to make ASM a legitimate student government.”
Our optimal idea of reform is a one-point plan: scrap the system. However, to disband ASM would either require the new Student Council to dismantle the organization from the inside or the next chancellor to ignore ASM altogether. It’ll be a snowy day in Bermuda before either of those things happen.
Given the circumstances, we would settle for effective reform in our student government. It was for this reason that we sat down with four ASM representatives-elect — Jessica Pavlic, John Tackett, Laine Kalowski and Kurt Gosselin — to discuss their initiative at length. While they insist they’re “going back to the basics,” their vague answers and uncertain approach seem to argue otherwise.
Their first “commitment” is to focus campaign efforts on “issues of higher education,” concentrating specifically on issues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. They outlined plans to focus efforts toward lobbying the state Legislature for more funding for professors’ salaries, partnership benefits and UW in general.
Yet ASM representatives’ excitement over future plans hasn’t come from any support they may have found at the Capitol, but from meetings they’ve had with professors regarding future efforts. Ms. Pavlic stated that professors were “comforted” to know that students were advocating on their behalf, and Mr. Tackett speculated that disaffected professors may stay if only for that reason. While we certainly want our professors to feel secure in their positions, ASM pep talks are not the answer. Instead of garnering support within pre-existing allegiances, these students should be building new ones in the Legislature. Considering ASM’s Legislative Affairs committee isn’t even registered to lobby at the Capitol, we’re not optimistic.
We are also skeptical that these reforms will lead to smaller, more responsible government. While the 14 representatives insist on forcing Student Council to approve all campaigns and initiatives and cap the internal budget, they seem quite secure in creating even more committees of limited utility. If ASM shares the sentiment that it has spread its resources too thin, as Mr. Gosselin admitted, how will even more committees solve their problems?
Take for instance their proposed press office. Not only do they expect this office to coexist with ASM’s “grassroots” outreach committee — which would be needless if representatives actually made the effort themselves — but they also believe this office is necessary to communicate effectively with “the media.” Individual members of ASM should be perfectly capable of writing and distributing simple press releases. Appointing a media middleman will not help improve ASM’s legitimacy — direct representation will.
This is why we agree with the proposal to create a presidential system, as long as that individual is not a mere figurehead. Not only would the ensuing presidential campaigns likely garner far greater student interest and engagement than any previous elections, but a strong executive could also deliver the direction ASM has been lacking for years. By acting as a direct conduit from the student body to the student government, an effective president could shake ASM out of its stupor. Who knows? If a candidate running on the platform of disbanding ASM actually wins, perhaps our dream reform will actually come true.
Of course, reform of any sort won’t happen if ASM is uneasy about taking charge. Throughout our meeting with the four representatives, they backed away from specific details of their proposals, repeating the need to get “feedback” and “input” from the student body. ASM, consider this your input: The impetus is on you. Students won’t provide feedback until you have actually done something.
So cap your budget, shrink your government and elect a president. Stand by your promise to scrutinize non-allocable segregated fees. Venture out of your seg fee-funded bureaucratic labyrinth and make a concerted effort to rebuild this dilapidated organization.
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Did you ask the ‘representatives’ if they would put ASM to a test next fall or spring? They only have to vote to place a disbanding referendum to a vote of the student body.
ASM must be placed on hiatus for a few years to ever become an effective voice for students. The staff must be fired, the current students must be sent packing, and the model of government that they so effectively stagnate must be gutted.
A president will only solve the issue if s/he abolishes the current government or at the very least acts in the most obstructionist of ways.
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And now it is clear that the Badger Herald is about as relevant to the world as ASM.
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GOD DAMN IT A PRESS OFFICE IS NEEDED SO THAT WHAT ASM IS ACTUALLY DOING CAN BE COMMUNICATED TO THE STUDENT BODY, SO THAT ASM CAN ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FUCK THEY ARE SAYING TO THE WORLD. SOME KIND OF CENTRALIZATION OF THE FRAGMENTED OPERATING PROCESS IS NEEDED. FROM MINOR AT THE BOTTOM TO SEWELL AT THE TOP, THESE KIDS NEED TO SCREW THEIR HEADS ON STRAIGHT.
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10:27am… do you need a hug?
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I completely agree. I feel that bad and ineffective press initiatives is one of the biggest causes of this whole fiasco. ASM chairs work their asses of, while campus relations focuses their time on finding ways out of doing their job. but thats to be expected when you don’t like people.
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mayerhoff quality…
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Reforming ASM is like planting a pail and shovel inside a clown. Did that make sense? Neither does reforming ASM. Long Live the Revolution! Student Government! - Germain E. Stemme