Letter to the Editor: Disappointment in SGA

Yet again I am disappointed in your Student Government Association. The shock and surprise I felt at the last Senate Session, specifically the "Special Senate Session for the purpose of confirming the new Vice-President," is something I find difficult to put into words.

Our illustrious Student Body President had decided to nominate someone new for the position vacated, under rather suspicious conditions, by Kristina Morgan. Those reasons I can only assume have been put on a need to know basis and as senators we apparently do not need to know. I say this because all we have been officially told is that "she will no longer be serving as Vice President of Student Government."

The choice for said nomination is something that came completely out of left field for all in the Senate. Quana Stone. A senior on work study. Who has never served as a committee chair, never passed a single piece of legislation and by her own admission has no concept of parliamentary procedure, the rules of order we depend on for an efficient, concise and meaningful Senate session. For this nomination I would like to applaud our Student Body President for rising to a challenge that has been said in close quiet circles of SGA could not be done, finding a person less qualified and less able to run a senate session than Kristina Morgan.

If I may digress, Ms Stone's official Constituency, who she represents, is Residence Hall A. After conversing with a few of them were not even aware that she was their official representative. She has been a member of The Student Government of the past four years and I find it surprising that she is not better known as a senator. I question why in four years has she never moved up to a leadership position on to a committee? If she has been a member of one of the nine constitutionally sanctioned committees by SGA, as required by every member of SGA, she certainly had the opportunity.

She also has never passed a single piece of legislation. Now, one would argue that the Great Peter Urscheler never did either. But what most don't know about the man who is said to have brought about the golden age of our great organization is that his first time he ran unopposed. He simply had to pass a vote of no confidence. If there is only one person willing to do the job and the organization needs some leadership, well then you are pretty much guaranteed to get the position.

She also admitted to not knowing any Parliamentary Procedure. That of course is not necessary for someone who runs senate according to Robert's Rule's of Order, I mean Ms Morgan did not have a firm grasp, but generally it's nice to know.

I think, we, as senators and you as students who look to us to represent deserve better. I think we deserve someone one who has a desire to change this campus for the better with legislation. We deserve someone who can run our meetings efficiently and who does not need to constantly look over questioningly at the parliamentarian.

But in no shape way and form do I attack her, I simply question her qualifications, I am sure she is a very nice person as so many intoned when endorsing her. I wonder about this appointment by our President. Was this, in his mind, truly the best person for the job, over looking Cabinet members, other infinitely more involved senators who have passed legislation and have taken the time to read that book by that Robert guy, or is she simply a puppet. But we should all trust our president, because members in political positions always do what is best for the greater good and not their own political aims. And we as senators pledged to blindly trust our superiors and not question whether a decision is best for the students and campus, whose rights we swore to protect. This is what disappoints me about this: how will SGA ever be taken seriously and not thought of as a Licensed, Bonded, administration sanctioned, suggestion box, when things like this tend to happen. As it stands that's what we are, completely at the mercy of the administration. The major argument for most bills when discussing feasibility is that it is simply a recommendation to the administration; they will decide how to implement it. Your organization needs reform. Your organization needs those who feel strongly about the issues that directly affect you and future matters that affect all future students of Stetson University. Get involved. Make your voices heard because you apparently cannot depend on the people occupying the floor to do what is in your best interest.