2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: A reflection on senate
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
03/27/08 - The University of Rhode Island Student Senate brought its year to a close yesterday. Rummaging through our memories and back issues, we found a senate caught up in internal rules and procedures that distracted it from some real and important issues.
But at the same time senators deserve credit for recognizing student groups, overcoming a nasty election dispute and approving student group budgets with ease not seen in years.
The senate truly appeared paradoxical this year. On one hand, senators showed unanimous agreement in fighting Narragansett's Unruly Gatherings ordinance but a few months later disintegrated into squabbling factions after the Elections Committee disqualified senate presidential candidate Josh Feinberg for violating campaign rules.
In finance, the senate passed budgets for 64 groups with unbelievable speed. For better or for worse, senators posed not a single question to student groups ready to defend their budget proposals. We hope this is because the senate did the heavy lifting in the Finance Committee - where it should have - and not because senators were too apathetic to raise a question.
We do know that Finance Committee Chairman Eric Klos asked many questions during the course of this year, and he deserves congratulations for keeping funds flowing from the senate to student groups. A job that often includes complex rules, frustrated group presidents and a constant shortage of time is not one just anyone can handle.
During the recognition of groups, Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee Chairwoman Amanda LaRocca deserves a round of applause for not losing her mind after hours - or even days - of debate about the National Society of Black Engineers and PINK Women. The position is extremely stressful, which only the most dedicated senator could have done.
External Affairs Committee Chairman Thomas Ahrens also performed a remarkable job, leading the charge to persuade the ACLU to side with Student Senate and investigate issues surrounding Narragansett's "Orange Sticker" policy."
And continuing a long streak of dedicated service, Academic Affairs Chairman Cristin Langworthy held senate to its own rules and fulfilled a demanding - and incredibly underappreciated - role of Elections Committee chair.
One can only hope the 19 new senators sworn in last night learn from the mistakes of previous senators, build on the strengths of those like Langworthy and Klos, and create a more productive and passionate senate.
But at the same time senators deserve credit for recognizing student groups, overcoming a nasty election dispute and approving student group budgets with ease not seen in years.
The senate truly appeared paradoxical this year. On one hand, senators showed unanimous agreement in fighting Narragansett's Unruly Gatherings ordinance but a few months later disintegrated into squabbling factions after the Elections Committee disqualified senate presidential candidate Josh Feinberg for violating campaign rules.
In finance, the senate passed budgets for 64 groups with unbelievable speed. For better or for worse, senators posed not a single question to student groups ready to defend their budget proposals. We hope this is because the senate did the heavy lifting in the Finance Committee - where it should have - and not because senators were too apathetic to raise a question.
We do know that Finance Committee Chairman Eric Klos asked many questions during the course of this year, and he deserves congratulations for keeping funds flowing from the senate to student groups. A job that often includes complex rules, frustrated group presidents and a constant shortage of time is not one just anyone can handle.
During the recognition of groups, Student Organization Advisory and Review Committee Chairwoman Amanda LaRocca deserves a round of applause for not losing her mind after hours - or even days - of debate about the National Society of Black Engineers and PINK Women. The position is extremely stressful, which only the most dedicated senator could have done.
External Affairs Committee Chairman Thomas Ahrens also performed a remarkable job, leading the charge to persuade the ACLU to side with Student Senate and investigate issues surrounding Narragansett's "Orange Sticker" policy."
And continuing a long streak of dedicated service, Academic Affairs Chairman Cristin Langworthy held senate to its own rules and fulfilled a demanding - and incredibly underappreciated - role of Elections Committee chair.
One can only hope the 19 new senators sworn in last night learn from the mistakes of previous senators, build on the strengths of those like Langworthy and Klos, and create a more productive and passionate senate.