Hatin’ SGA

The SOS Party has posted their platform here (warning, pdf). I’ll be putting my thoughts about it up later, but here is a reader submitted critique of the platform:

Advocacy, Advocacy, Advocacy

• “Advocacy” has become the buzzword around SGA now as it is preferable to “accomplishing nothing.” Failed to slow or even question the plus/minus grading changeover? You “advocated” for the students! Failed to get more funding for SPIA? Nevermind, you “advocated” for it!
• Having Senators present in their schools is a good idea, but you have to do things for the students after listening to their concerns. Otherwise, what’s the point in having them?
• Statistical polling by face-to-face polling? That’s about as un-scientific as it gets. Nobody in the administration will care about anything done by a poll conducted in such as manner. Get some political science skills and figure out a way to use SGA’s manpower and money to actually do a correct poll.
• Media Outlets? Does anyone watch channel 15? I agree that this is an asset that could be better utilized, but what’s SGA supposed to do about it?

Organization Outreach

• Now why would any organization want to send a representative to a meeting that will never accomplish anything? I guarantee you this will be a complete failure unless SGA proves it’s more powerful than a one-day old panda.
• Who decides something’s a “major campus organization”? And why would any of them, other than the ones run by SGA cronies, want to talk to the SGA people?
• Good idea to get SGA more involved in residence halls and the freshmen experience. Now, try to expand that outreach beyond the select few “insiders” inducted into the SGA environs each year.
• If this constitution passes, then you’ll have more sinecures for your cronies in the judicial branch. I challenge you to appoint someone with a spine- say, the creator of this website- to that branch. Then things might actually get done.
• Good idea for more records.
• I eagerly await the results of the medical amnesty policy.
• And a 24-hour SLC as well.

Campus initiatives

• You want to take up valuable instructional space with SGA LOUNGES? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Put the SGA people in front of a desk in the entranceway and offer free food for feedback. That’s all you need to do.
• Good idea for a completely wireless campus.
• Good idea for more safe rides program.
• Umm okay, go ahead and try to highlight schools across campus… see if anyone cares.

Now I looked long and hard to find the platforms for the senators from my school, SPIA, but on both their facebook groups and on the website I could find nothing other than this: Personal Platform:
• increase communication throughout SPIA
• increase class availability
• internships with professors in SPIA

Good job with the specifics here. I really enjoy knowing that my future SPIA senators have a plan for the future.

Congrats SOS- maybe next year all we’ll need is a president and vice president since all these initiatives are going to be so successful!