It isn't the students' fault, don't try to blame this on them.

It is great that you have good intentions. I always found you to be an excellent candidate and even voted for you.

But what power does Student Senate have to make things better for students? Virtually none. They make endless recommendations, because that is all they can do. Then it is up to the exeuctives of the university to decide if they want to listen to those suggestions.

The only thing a Senate Member can do is to take a project up on their own, a la Adam Howell.

Originally posted by

Chris Kromphardt

C'mon, don't be sidetracked by making fun of Travis. And btw, he's not a Student Senator. Nerd patrol, maybe.

But are there any legitimate concerns out there? Or just a lot of talk about how irrelevant the Senate may be? I'm a brand new Senator, ran 2 unsuccessful independent campaigns, but finally joined up with a new party of good people who hope to do a lot of good for the students of Eastern, not merely pad a resume or go on a power trip. But if the students aren't willing to talk with us, that kinda frustrates our job.

[It isn't the students' fault, don't try to blame this on them.

It is great that you have good intentions. I always found you to be an excellent candidate and even voted for you.

But what power does Student Senate have to make things better for students? Virtually none. They make endless recommendations, because that is all they can do. Then it is up to the exeuctives of the university to decide if they want to listen to those suggestions.

The only thing a Senate Member can do is to take a project up on their own, a la Adam Howell.]

Oh, I'm sorry if it came across that I'm trying to blame all students. My comment was more in reference to some specific commentators on here. I personally believe that it is a Senator's responsibility to actively seek out the opinions of students, especially those he/she doesn't know personally, to have a stronger grasp of who all he/she is representing.

In response to the Senate being, for a lack of a better term, impotent, I agree and disagree. You mentioned Adam Howell; his name along with a few others come to find when thinking of effective Senators whose ability to spark change were marginalized. I think it is necessary for those Senators, because they are few among many, to not only take on projects of their own, but to go out of their way to incorporate as many voices as possible into that process. Good things are possible, we just unfortunately have our work cut out us.

I thought Howell's Student Action Team was an excellent use of student government's time and efforts. I wouldn't call it being marginalized. When I think of the successes of SG, that is what I think of.

I'm not sure "change" is really necessary on Student Senate. It is what it is. But a few single strong student leaders, regardless of position on the government, can really effect positive outcomes when they put their minds to it. If Student Government does any real good, it is putting those sorts of people together and giving them a chance to interact.