Opinion: Letter
Gallagher or not, reform possible
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As a freshman representative, I came into the Associated Students of Madison’s Student Council with the bliss of idealism and the desire to change the campus. However, after a few short meetings, I was convinced that Student Council wasn’t what I expected. This Student Council wasn’t about activism or being the voice of the students; it was a cloud of bureaucracy that only incumbent representatives could fight their way through. At the first meeting I attended, I wasn’t allowed to sit at the table or even speak. I was determined that I would make it through this term with minimal attachment and wouldn’t return.
However, the more I learned and became proactive, the more I came to develop a commitment to ASM. And I soon decided that I had been wrong. No, it isn’t perfect. Yes, there are obviously things that should be changed. The idealist in me was there, and I maintain it is still there now. And this idealism was reawakened at every meeting by one Alex Gallagher.
Anyone who is even minimally aware that a student government exists on campus would recognize the name of Alex Gallagher. He has been one of the few positive figureheads of the 14th session. Mr. Gallagher championed reform within the Student Services Finance Committee and was an activist throughout the ASM structure. When he was reelected as a representative for this term I admit to giving a sigh of relief.
However, as the first meeting of the 15th session on Thursday drew to a close, Mr. Gallagher abruptly announced his resignation. He claimed that, from this one meeting, he could determine that any further attempt at reform would not be worth his time.
The loss of Mr. Gallagher is undeniably a devastating blow to Student Council and ASM. Mr. Gallagher has been behind almost every major attempt at reform I have witnessed during my tenure. Some might argue having him quit is a testament to the failure of ASM. But I refuse to think this way. Contrary to popular belief, ASM is not a one-man show. There are other leaders within the organization who, I am fully confident, can drive ASM reforms within the coming year. Not one voice at our Student Council meeting said that there was no need or want for change. The new crop of Student Council representatives seems dedicated to the cause, and that idealist in me believes we can push through the necessary reforms. It may be slow and difficult at first but I know that with dedication this Council can create change.
Had I known Mr. Gallagher was going to submit a resignation at the end of the meeting, I still would not have done anything differently. Frankly, there are enough cynics on campus and within ASM leadership as there is. I respect that Alex has put more work into ASM than I can even fathom. But even without Alex, ASM and Student Council still have the hope of reform.
Lindsay Bembenek
Student Council Representative - College of Letters and Science
lbembenek@wisc.edu
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ASM IS DEAD! WE WANT A NEW STUDENT GOVERNMENT !!!
Bembenek, representatives like you are the reason ASM never moves beyond the status quo. Short-sighted, voting for personal reasons (ie. voting with your friends) rather than what is good for the organization.
Do us all a favor and just resign.
Your an idiot 8:05, a new government was just elected. It’s your own fault if you didn’t run and win. If the same people keep getting reelected it the Student Body’s fault.
less than 10% of students voted. If you have a laptop and WIFI, you don’t even need to get out of bed to vote.
It would have taken less effort than your whining.
But like most students you find it easier to complain than to get off your butt and actually do something.
9:52, we complain because on Thursday you just proved to every student that despite all of our (naive) hopes that this time would different, the 15th session is NOT capable of producing the necessary reforms. Especially with Alex Gallagher deciding to wimp out.
So, I echo 8:05, WE WANT A NEW STUDENT GOVERNMENT.
well i bet if you could check the “dont put anyone in office” box on the ballot 8:05 would have voted, yeah asm sucks
Poorly written and argued.
I think the point of this letter is that we should acknowledge the tremendous impact that Gallagher had on ASM policies this year. But we should also recognize the potential for further change within ASM. Isn’t “change” the buzzword for 2008?
Positive reform takes an entire committee, just just one person. I think that we owe the 15th session the opportunity to prove themselves as being serious about reform before we go announcing Gallagher was the only hope ASM ever had.
I hope that this Student Council is able to follow through on their campaign promises, and continue the reform initiated this year. All so that the student body will be proud of their own student government rather than panning it in the student press.
Do any of you ASM bashers actually know all of the things that ASM does? Why don’t all of you people stop complaining about ASM and actually do something, like Lindsay. Congrats Lindsay, i think Madison needs more people like you. Keep up the good work.
@ 11:53 the point is get off your butt and do something, like running for election. Doing nothing before or during the election doesn’t validate the complaining afterwards.
IF YOU WANT A NEW GOVERNMENT GET ELECTED! IT CAN’T BE EXPLAINED ANY SIMPLER!!!!
I did ASM for years. That’s the irony. Almost everyone who has been invested at some point in ASM, are the ones calling for a new student government. Or at least significant reform. It’s you newbies who can’t seem to get it in your head. We’ve done our time. So this whole, “get off your ass and do something” response is getting old. YOU do something.
Gallagher should not have resigned. Nothing is accomplished when you quit - and change the conversation from real issues to your resignation. Bembenek’s right, it is not a one man show and ASM will move forward. To all the ASM critics - grow up. Its so much easier from the cheap seats to sit and complain yet take no action. You are the same people who complain about the government yet don’t vote.