. Opi • nions . 6 The Daily Collegian Tuesday, Jan. 11, 1994 C) l°k4Ni ' lP4B—.... D Editorial Opinion . .•..........„....,... D. 41. 42:36MWilg* ?' • • .. Elt RuN NEXT CICOR _.,.. _ ___, ,__. . Do sometning AND FND Our WW 4 114 EYRE COPENIMex- ... ....... :::::::.:.....-• , Student leaders must act , ..... ......„.................:::.:::::.:::::::::::::: in the New Year • ~......:::::.......::::::::::::....:::::::... Studentgovernment must set 111 Be thrifty. As college stu some New Year :::K:::::::::::iiiii::::::::::i::::::::&iiK:K:::::::::::::::::•:. 's resolutions dents know, having money is 109/ 5 •::.:•:::::::::::.:+:::::::::::::::::::::::::.x.x.::::::::::::::::::: . •::m:::•::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : ::i* ::: . that will help it be more pro- crucial to a successful semes ! l' --- -; 1 1 DI sCOUNT .....-.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ..5y:.:—:.:.:.:.:.:.:..:..:.. ductive in 1994. Here are some ter. The ESAC student activity •i:::i•.iini familiar suggestions for our fee could prove successful to I , pASCIISWI‘ ip l i ii i . s: : • l: •:iii::::giii::iiigE:ii:: fearless leaders to add to their student organizations. Let's ' :iiiii • ":::i :i:iiiiii§::iiiiii§giiiiiiiiiii:iiiiii:iiii' ::.:•::: ...•••:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: . resolution list: hear more about the plan USG . , MAIAO ::.:::: ::: : i: : :::::::*:.:.:: :•••••••••:.::.•-:.:-:.:•::-::-::*::*::-:••• • Lose weight. USG President announced in November to •••• •.... ........... ::: ... ~ ~. ":: .:Z:i;i:i;i : i . ." .*. : Chris Saunders put the organi- allocate a percentage of tuition I Q ATO.MAPT ~.. • • . ......• ............ . • • zation on a diet to be more increases annually to the Office :::::::::::::::::•:„. --,::::::::.:::.:. ... ...... •::i ::•:•.•:::- •:? :::::::::: •::: efficient. But following through of Student Aid. Saunders also _. --- anummen __ _ _ :i::::::::i::::i:::::iiiiini:.::::::::::::::•••• ....-- , -..... on promises becomes difficult suggested monitoring tuition L = .. - 1 m, IIII MMIBM . ....-........ as members get caught in red increases by having a tuition 7:-. ifteet %It I FIG '4I- E REDUCnONSW _ -.-- __ tape and bickering. It's obvious jury in the Office of Student J I -- ._, ..... USG lacks focus when it uses Aid and distributing grants to .....- --_. ......... _-------- mob •mtimonm• H _ ...., . _ _......-= meeting time to argue about students who can't pay tuition. gqlrfr 'tg '• ii fiwu - n - -- *ll -----........-... V.= ------ •_ . . trivial items, such as tape But good intentions don ' t pay ---,... recorders - instead of issues. the bills. SAA.r, if 111g11,7;, h .- llM l____lr- 44 111re li t! 1111:k -Air _ .. -14 .... m.....- - -1 I -• ...-_ Abolishing the University M Visit old friends. Remember 7'1"111.211 :AfiV leck:i::jiiiiki:i:::•. ........,•::::: - :*i::::•.••••:•:•:•:. •7652.255,...... -.-...- .:.:............::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::: staiii ................................. s isom : : : i i : i tv .. ::: i . Student Advisory Board was those campaign promises - _ - - -••••••- .....„. .. ---- -- , supposed to replace it with increased campus lighting and something better, not with a campus emergency phones? fancier name like Executive Promises are promises so stu- wo),„k-5•iec•ia.0.4.42.4a5931.-nm0,...a Student Action Council. Let's dents expect results from corn- wtair lb SEE PinuRES see some of that "action." mittee meetings and 10 . CF kri GRe449041 tOßet4 ?i w"....w Exercise. You can hop on discussions. The course selector the Nordic Track, but never go guide concept made the Saun anywhere. So far, USG has dis- ders/Shore ticket unique, and ..... cussed establishing new Uni- now we want to see real results. versity internships and Rumor has it the course guide • addressing student concerns will be out early this semester. i• -, between Association of Resi- Rumors don't get anyone any- il /7 .. .., dence Hall Students, Organiza- where - make it a reality. The A ‘' ' • ' a h : ' ' . Lion for Town Independent open budget was another good 1,4/6 20. , , - Students and USG. It also idea, but don't stop halfway and 0 1 P - 4;1 , s •%.`• formed a committee for mid- forget faculty salaries, which • ItAtk "<",.." ......: , semester evaluations and talked could reveal inequities across 44 680 01 30 174 L '4l - 1. / k IVASx, j / 4 about forming joint committees the board. .7414 p tAIFP 01. 1 6.%. • • •••••....,-ka•MS. -0,43*.5` i ave. _ ;.0 4W , made up of ARHS, OTIS and It ' s time for student leaders ............... 4 . USG. While planning is good, to put away the champagne 4 1 A.t (1/// . p execution of these ideas is glasses and, party favors and r-9b ,„(AN 10U WAIT essential for change. get to work. . • • • l i r . , , ..- .i 1 .%. - kf . MA qa 4 25 YE 1 1251 __ s ,,- •.,,..1...,.;1, at.:- lino c.,. ~ .-- c. 4141 A.. ..0 1 &i:oa! -- --:- - ir ,....__, must also be typewritten, double-spaced and no ; / „el: P''' 9 9 1 EAR otto /. \__, i dathilye collegian longer than three pages. Students' letters should include semester standing, r ' qCe; ' :• /WM kg vs, , r 2 -(•<- NO .11■110: ~.r...•••••lliks ( ; 47 . 1 I 1 1 major and campus of the writer. Letters from alumni 4sf Tuesday, Jan. 11, 1994 should include the major and year of graduation of ,a, . •-E ati Lr= _ and phone number for verification of the letter. Let- L ©1994 Collegian inc. Av ..... the writer. All writers should provide their address 'zeiNtk txx. --..-- - •. _ I._ nala 3B tiV.:4lb4g., . • . , -.l l k .' 'S$ W: - " • . • Editor ters should be signed by no more than two people. in3§s3a3iE tEßKsstb.osake€ VV_ .=-- _ _ Mike Abrams Names may be withheld on request. , __ The Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for */ gat)it. Business Manager length and to reject letters if they are libelous or do ---.....mm.i. ....._ Walter F. Gorba not conform to standards of good taste. Because of • ....e. : . _.....a._ 1 I ILA r ilk -.., Ar the number of letters received, the Collegian cannot . 7 -•-••.• _ • ... . - 7'7' • --- •• • .-.. . ••• • • ___ ___ .. •..•••• guarantee publication of all the letters it receives. Amonom b . Letters may also be selected for publication in The The Daily Collegian's editorial opinion is Weekly Collegin. All letters received become the determined by its Board of Opinion, with the property of Collegian Inc. 01 • ' • • ..i .• • • editor holding final responsibility. 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Columnists and cartoonists must be enrolled as students at the 12 '.Burrowes St, ilton, executive secretary, Collegian Inc. day, Thursday and Friday during the summer, and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday University and may not be leaders of student organizations or membert of the University Park, Pa: . . ...i . .,..,:.! Undergraduate Student Government. .1600. t. QUestioris?: Call. ::: during the semester. It is distributed on the University Letters Policy: The Daily Collegian encourages Park campus. The Weekly Collegian is mailed to If you are interested, stop by the Collegian's business office in James Building, the opinions'aditort at , . .;•.:• comments on news coverage, editorial policy and Commonwealth Campus students, parents of stu- 123 S. Burrowes St, to pick up an application. Applications are due Jan. 17. '. .S6„'.. -... '- : •'. ......•.. .. University affairs. Letters must be typewritten, dou- dents, alumni and other subscribers who want to ble-spaced and no longer than two pages. Forums keep abreast of University news. If you have questions, please contact spring opinion editors Jennifer Hall or 5-18213: . Stephanie Sprenkle at 865-1828. lIIIIIIIIIIIINPIIIIIIIMM USG members should worry about students, not resumes Spring at University Park brings us record amounts of brown slush, two straight months of rain and Undergraduate Student Government elections. It's hard to figure out which to look forward to the least. As a seasoned USG watcher (I was the student government beat reporter two springs ago and have been an editor ever since), I've always encouraged people to get involved in USG and vote in elec tions. Last spring I wrote a column sarcastically declaring my candi dacy in part to stir up interest in student government. But this year, I'm more dis gusted with USG than ever. Maybe I've just given up my faith that anything will ever change, and that new leaders I'm excited about for a while won't let me down. Student government at Penn State seems to have one funda mental flaw that shows up most clearly when election time rolls around. USG is supposed to serve the students. But four years of USG watching has convinced me that many of the leaders in USG are mainly out to serve them selves. It's obvious in the current My Opinion administration. USG President Chris Saunders has given up the fight for an open University bud get because he would like to believe that he has opened it already. But to get his ego boost he had to abandon the long push for open faculty salaries and detailed item ization. If the whole budget is not open to the public, there is no way to make the University account able on matters of equity in pro fessors' pay or prevent fiascos like D. Lewis Mothersbaugh's alleged $22,932.13 in misappropriations. Saunders did a lot to get the budget open to the point that it is, and he deserves credit for that. But his desire for praise is pre- venting him from continuing his efforts on behalf of students. Not that I have much more con fidence in those who want to come after him. One eager candidate has already informed people of who his running mate is and says he has more than 200 people working on his campaign. Apparently they were meeting for much of last semester. Another candidate has not kept his aspirations or running mate a secret either. It's kind of funny that I know all this, considering that the USG elections code prevents any candi date from informing people of his or her candidacy or actively cam paigning until a designated period two-and-a-half weeks before the election. And if the Collegian's managing editor who should be the last person they want to find out a secret knows about it, how quiet can they possibly be keeping it? Obviously people need to con sider running long before the time to actually declare comes. The problem is that at least two people in prominent positions in USG seem to have put most of their efforts this year into organizing campaigns for USG president and "Most USG members would rather piddle around at meetings and throw away the chance that involvement in USG gives them to do something meaningful for students and this University." gaining exposure, rather than doing their current jobs as well as they could. And there is a reason for that two-and-a-half-weeks rule. It gives everyone an equal opportunity to run for the position. Those already in power shouldn't be able to use their positions to promote their own careers. Keeping the cam paigning period limited and con trolled gives all students a chance to participate. Even worse, two of the potential candidates have apparently made a deal to keep discussion of a pro posed student activity fee out of the campaign. The Executive Stu dent Action Council is considering having every student pay a fee each semester to fund student groups, but the candidates don't want to be open about it with stu dents because they are afraid it could hurt their campaigns. There are some honest, hard working, concerned students in USG I've met them. But getting a close look at three USG Senates and administrations has convinced me that the good members are far outnumbered. Most USG members would rather piddle around at meetings and throw away the chance that involvement in USG gives them to do something mean ingful for students and this Uni versity. There are ways to make student government at Penn State a real force, and they have nothing to do with restructuring USG or renam ing USEC to USAB to ESAC or hiding things from students so that they get done in secret without debate or controversy. ' They have to do with getting USG members who really care about making a difference, not their resumes, and with students who aren't willing to lay down and let student government ignore them. I'm a skeptic now, but I'm clinging to some faith. I want can didates to convince me that they care about attending and staying awake at meetings, listening to student concerns, working hard and getting tangible results. And I want the students to get behind those candidates and vote them into office in record numberS, then support them and work with them for an entire year. More than anything else, I want to see a USG that works its butt off for the students of this University. I'll tell you right now, there may not be a lot of thanks for it, but I'll be there to shake your hind because I work for the students, too. My job is to inform them, and I'm going to do my best to ;1e sure they know exactly how you are doing. If all of us are working as hard as we can, there could be great things ahead. If not, it'll be another year of sloth in 203 A Scott Dodd is a senior main journalism and the Collegian's managing editor.
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