Corrupt politicians, economic bail-outs, and the anxieties of a new presidential regime dominate the national air waves. It is refreshing to turn from the vastly intangible workings of the United States and take a look at a government that’s a little bit closer to home, specifically closer to the “Butler Bubble.”
The Student Government Association represents the student body through a huge number of Butler organizations, the Greek houses, housing units, RUN, Out of the Dawg House- to name a (very) few.
How well does an organization representing the entire campus work together? If the weekly assembly on February 4 was any indication, with a humorous, yet tense rapport.
The resolution with the most impact on the assembly’s constituents wasn’t about Butler’s cafeteria’s, staff/faculty, or curriculum, but on supporting the name change of Sunset Avenue to Butler Way.
4600 Butler Way. It kind of has some charm to it.
All sorts of arguments for and against the name change came up. Tradition, letter heads, and the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood were all valid arguments, and the resolution to support the name change went through.
It’s not like anyone uses snail mail anymore.
It is really interesting to see SGA at work. The amount of deliberation that goes on is immense to say the least.
The biggest issue for the actual governing body, and not its constituents, was the amending of election rules.
The new election rules involve time lines and funding. Two motions were put forward to amend the rules in order to avoid disenfranchising voters. Also, both amendments involved fines for election policy infringements.
Both resolutions died. Policy now dictates that candidates must turn in an itemized budget along with their petition. The itemized budget would ensure that the election candidates would only spend the allotted amount of money on campaign materials.
The fourth’s assembly was the battle ground for some issues that are rather superfluous when it comes to the general student population, but it’s good to know SGA keeps their constituents in mind.
Does anyone else find it amusing that SGA spends its time voting on things such as changing street names? This has absolutely no affect on the school and only serves to waste supplies the school has already provided such as letterhead, etc. Things like this are frustrating.