2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: Some senators give senate a bad rap
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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11/01/07 - It's a sad day when the president of the Student Senate publicly admonishes his colleagues for doing a less than stellar job, but that day came yesterday. Neil Leston ripped into a small group of his fellow senators for not showing up, and these senators should be ashamed of themselves.
A fundamental part of any job is to regularly attend it. It is impossible for senators to represent their constituents if they miss the meetings where decisions are made. By not making meetings, senators are turning their backs on those who elected them.
The senate should be applauded for removing four senators that failed at their jobs by missing too many meetings. It's pleasing to see that Leston and his administration are not afraid to put senators in their place.
And while Leston's comments might seem harsh, consider the fact that many hail senators as role models. Is it really fair for a senator - who has missed half the meetings - to brag to future employers about his time on senate? Of course not.
And that dovetails into a point raised by senator Cristin Langworthy. She noted, rightfully so, that some senators put in significantly more work than others. It is simply unfair and unethical for some senators to sit back and let their peers tackle the difficult or time-consuming issues.
Time and time again senators recite the mantra that students can make a difference if they band together. Yet it appears that a few senators are making it difficult for the senate to band together itself.
This begs the question - Why do these senators even bother to run? Filing paperwork, writing a platform and campaigning are conscious steps that imply a willingness to represent students and, more importantly, lead.
The senate relies on every senator to represent a different group of students and genuinely wants their input. Students are under the impression that their senators are working hard, not skipping meetings for coffee.
This is not to overlook the hard work of the senators that go the extra mile. Langworthy, Vice President Ryan Battis, Cultural Affairs Committee Chairman David Bedard, Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee Chairman Amanda LaRocca and External Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Ahrens have had perfect or nearly perfect attendance.
Ahrens has also gone the extra mile by deeply involving himself in the senate's fight against Narragansett's "orange sticker" policy. Regardless of whether you agree with Ahrens' views, he exemplifies what each senator should be doing.
A fundamental part of any job is to regularly attend it. It is impossible for senators to represent their constituents if they miss the meetings where decisions are made. By not making meetings, senators are turning their backs on those who elected them.
The senate should be applauded for removing four senators that failed at their jobs by missing too many meetings. It's pleasing to see that Leston and his administration are not afraid to put senators in their place.
And while Leston's comments might seem harsh, consider the fact that many hail senators as role models. Is it really fair for a senator - who has missed half the meetings - to brag to future employers about his time on senate? Of course not.
And that dovetails into a point raised by senator Cristin Langworthy. She noted, rightfully so, that some senators put in significantly more work than others. It is simply unfair and unethical for some senators to sit back and let their peers tackle the difficult or time-consuming issues.
Time and time again senators recite the mantra that students can make a difference if they band together. Yet it appears that a few senators are making it difficult for the senate to band together itself.
This begs the question - Why do these senators even bother to run? Filing paperwork, writing a platform and campaigning are conscious steps that imply a willingness to represent students and, more importantly, lead.
The senate relies on every senator to represent a different group of students and genuinely wants their input. Students are under the impression that their senators are working hard, not skipping meetings for coffee.
This is not to overlook the hard work of the senators that go the extra mile. Langworthy, Vice President Ryan Battis, Cultural Affairs Committee Chairman David Bedard, Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee Chairman Amanda LaRocca and External Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Ahrens have had perfect or nearly perfect attendance.
Ahrens has also gone the extra mile by deeply involving himself in the senate's fight against Narragansett's "orange sticker" policy. Regardless of whether you agree with Ahrens' views, he exemplifies what each senator should be doing.