Students should partake in PSG decisions

To put it mildly, many students do not believe the Purdue Student Government is an effective organization. Time after time, concerned students ask us why PSG isn’t doing more for the student body. The Exponent itself has written numerous editorials about the ineffectiveness of PSG.

There are some in the administration and in the staff here at Purdue who don’t want a strong student government. Because a strong student government can work with the administration when it needs to, but can also aggressively challenge the administration when issues arise that the students and the administration don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye.

Unfortunately, we’ve both seen firsthand the ineffectiveness of the current Student Government organization. A well functioning student government is vital to advocating the students’ interests when important issues come up. But a non-functioning student government hamstrings us as a student body.

Recognizing this, in October a committee was formed to look into the structure and operations of PSG, and try to address some of the obstacles that prevent PSG from serving the students effectively. Called the Internal Review Committee (IRC), the group met over the past several months and drafted a PowerPoint document, which it submitted to PSG. The document outlined its findings, and included a new constitution with it that would address what the committee found to be wrong with PSG.

Its suggestions included having all senators elected by academic school, instead of the current system by which most are appointed by residency status. The findings also called for a realignment of the executive branch of PSG, arguing that the largeness of the organization prevented it from being effective. Finally, the committee called for a streamlining of the entire organization, replacing the current three-branch system we have now with a unified Student Government. The committee believed that these broad, sweeping changes would make PSG more effective in serving the students if implemented.

Its findings are on the Web, at http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~psg at the bottom of the page (Internal Review Committee findings).

Unfortunately, its findings were not acknowledged by the Student Senate, and serious debate or consideration over the merits of the committee's proposal did not occur, nor is it likely in the near future.

We believe that the student body deserves a consideration of these proposed changes, because the student body deserves an effective PSG. The student body’s representatives let the students down by not considering these changes.

That’s why we have taken the action necessary to have a referendum on the proposal. We want the student body to decide whether this sweeping change to their student government is warranted.

Our view is that these changes are necessary and positive. We think the committee did a thorough job developing its proposal, and we would like to encourage all students to vote "yes" on the referendum.

How long does PSG have to come up short of expectations before we take action to revise the organizational structure of the organization? If you think PSG is doing a good job for the students, vote "no" on the referendum. But if you believe, as we do, that PSG is coming up short, than vote for organizational reform, because Purdue deserves better than the current Student Government. Please vote "yes" on the referendum this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on SSINFO.

Regardless of your views on this important issue, we would like to encourage all students to vote this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on SSINFO. You will have the opportunity to vote on a new president and vice president and on the referendum. If recent events in Florida tell us anything, it’s that every vote counts. Make sure your voice is heard this week by voting.

Jim Vaca is a Senior in the School of Management. He can be reached by email at Jvaca78@aol.com. Patrick Mondi is a Senior in the School of Technology he can be reached by email at pmondi@purdue.edu.

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