Kimball, student gov't failing student body
Issue date: 4/7/05 Section: Commentary
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It is the unanimous opinion of the University Chronicle Editorial Board that student government and its President Hal Kimball are not serving the SCSU student body well, or with the better interest of students in mind.
The group is unorganized, uninspired and poorly led. Important student-oriented issues have not been their main concern. As vice-president Bianca Rhodes wrote in her failed attempt to resign via e-mail, "Senators need to do their job. I have been noticing that, that is not happening."
Instead, some student government member's prerogatives have been entirely self-serving. As Rhodes emphasized, "If you came to student government with a perspective of only a resume line, then you are in the wrong place. There are so many accomplishments that we could have done this year but didn't happen."
Although there is only a limited amount of time left in the school year and many things could have happened "but didn't," it is what has happened that has affected SCSU students and organizations the most detrimentally.
The most eye-opening issue thus far is Kimball's election as state chair in the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA). This action would be similar to President Bush becoming the head of the United Nations after his term.
Eighty percent of the student body voted in favor of withdrawal (supported unanimously by student government) and Kimball promised to keep the issue at hand during his campaign.
Furthermore, SCSU was backed by Minnesota State University-Mankato representatives in a March walk-out during the MSUSA delegates assembly in 2004. In an interview with the University Chronicle in the Sept. 10, 2004 issue, Kimball was still adamant about addressing MSUSA. "It's not your daddy's MSUSA anymore," he said.
Rhodes said MSUSA would be tackled as well. "We will still be working on the MSUSA issue, that is very important to the students and student government," she said in an interview with the University Chronicle on April 19, 2004 after winning the student government election.
The group is unorganized, uninspired and poorly led. Important student-oriented issues have not been their main concern. As vice-president Bianca Rhodes wrote in her failed attempt to resign via e-mail, "Senators need to do their job. I have been noticing that, that is not happening."
Instead, some student government member's prerogatives have been entirely self-serving. As Rhodes emphasized, "If you came to student government with a perspective of only a resume line, then you are in the wrong place. There are so many accomplishments that we could have done this year but didn't happen."
Although there is only a limited amount of time left in the school year and many things could have happened "but didn't," it is what has happened that has affected SCSU students and organizations the most detrimentally.
The most eye-opening issue thus far is Kimball's election as state chair in the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA). This action would be similar to President Bush becoming the head of the United Nations after his term.
Eighty percent of the student body voted in favor of withdrawal (supported unanimously by student government) and Kimball promised to keep the issue at hand during his campaign.
Furthermore, SCSU was backed by Minnesota State University-Mankato representatives in a March walk-out during the MSUSA delegates assembly in 2004. In an interview with the University Chronicle in the Sept. 10, 2004 issue, Kimball was still adamant about addressing MSUSA. "It's not your daddy's MSUSA anymore," he said.
Rhodes said MSUSA would be tackled as well. "We will still be working on the MSUSA issue, that is very important to the students and student government," she said in an interview with the University Chronicle on April 19, 2004 after winning the student government election.