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Students prepare to vote
The first week of December could be one of many changes for SCSU. Students will be able to cast their votes regarding the election of college senators, SCSU's involvement in MSUSA and other issues such as parking, bus services and Eastman facilities.
Though other issues are being addressed, Vice President of Student Government Rachel Hughes said the most important item students can vote on is whether or not SCSU should pull out of MSUSA, an organization implemented to lobby for state colleges.
"The voting is to just to be able to say to the legislature that our students are willing to get out of MSUSA," Hughes said.
SCSU's student government does not believe that SCSU is being represented fairly by MSUSA. SCSU puts more money into the organization, almost $180,000 each year, than any other university involved and believes it has not benefited as much as it could. Hughes said SCSU needs to see more support from the federal and state level and MSUSA is not doing all it can to accomplish the task and keep up with changing times.
"It used to be in the House and Senate that there were a lot of Democrats and Democrats are usually more for higher education," Hughes said. "Right now there are a lot of Republicans in the House and Senate, so we need to lobby a different way towards them."
Hughes believes if MSUSA was lobbying effectively, SCSU tuition would not be increasing so much each year. If students vote to have the university back out of MSUSA, the money saved would go toward more scholarships and to form a new lobby organization, one that is more adequate and representative of its students.
SCSU has long had a parking problem on campus, an issue the administration recognizes and wants to address in the most efficient way possible. While voting on MSUSA, students will also be able to vote on whether they are willing to have their tuition increased in order to build a parking ramp. The ramp would have space available for some 500 cars and would be ready for use in 2005.
Right now students are enjoying the free MTC bus system, but SCSU needs to figure out a way to pay for the popular service to be around next year. This year SCSU and MTC are sharing the cost, but in 2004 SCSU will be on its own.
"We need to figure out next year where that funding is going to come from so we're also asking students if they are willing to increase their tuition to keep the free bus system," Hughes said.
Students will also be able to vote on the possibility of services provided by Eastman becoming free as of next fall. Once the new stadium is completed, students can pay a fee to use the new equipment, which would allow students to use Eastman free of charge.
The final item to be voted on is the election of college senators. During the spring, students elect the president, vice president and 16 senators at-large. Each senator is elected to represent 1,000 students and college senators are elected to represent his or her particular college, such as the College of Business or College of Education. Each college is allowed two senators to lobby for them and bring their concerns to student government.
"The senators are required to talk to their deans twice a semester and be an advocate for that specific college," Hughes said.
Application packets are available in the student government office in Atwood. Applicants must obtain a certain number of signatures and attend informational meetings before the elections. Students are encouraged to show up at the polls and offer their input on the many important issues the first week of December.
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