2008 Woodie Awards
Ed Desk: SGA election process an embarrassment
Sharon Leff
Opinion | 4/16/08
The Student Government Association and Towson University should be ashamed of themselves.
The "debate" that took place yesterday was the final straw in what can only be described as a year-long disaster.
The SGA advisors and SGA president do not get along; it's plain and simple.
And that dislike has grown so large in the last two semesters that it has overtaken the fundamental reason for having a student government.
On Tuesday the SGA senate decided not to extend the deadline for senator signature packets, deeming such an extension to be a violation of the election policy. The election committee in its entirety then resigned.
Following the election committee's resignation, The Towerlight was asked to co-sponsor the "debate."
We decided to accept that request for the sake of democracy. We wanted the students of this campus to be informed about the individuals who will represent them next year.
But Wednesday's event was nothing more than a circus.
Team Tigertown decided not to participate in the "debate."
An SGA director, who was scheduled to be part of the panel, declined to ask any questions of the Foundation ticket or the independent candidate.
During the question and answer session, a potential senator who missed the original deadline date fought with the candidates who did participate.
And the former head election commissioner exchanged emotional blows with Foundation and then called for the SGA president's impeachment.
Meanwhile, administrators stood along the sidelines watching the debacle unfold.
What should have been an opportunity for students to voice their concerns became a personal grudge match for the viewing pleasure of about 50 people. Dirty laundry was aired for all to see.
Though I don't know how things got this bad, I do know that both the SGA and the representatives from the division of student affairs should be embarrassed.
The SGA is responsible for representing the student body and they failed to do so on Wednesday. The administrators are responsible for fostering a positive environment for student development during their time at Towson and they have failed as well.
And worst of all, it is the students who are the losers in this fight. How can they be represented when everyone is too busy standing around fighting like children in the schoolyard? How can they cast informed votes, when the issues have not been debated?
Maybe everyone should take a time out, go sit in the corner, and come back to the University when they can behave like adults.
I am an advocate of students voting but right now I can't see fit to encourage students to vote next week. After the SGA vs. TU fight came to a climax on Wednesday both organizations need to start from scratch and find a way to be productive for the sake of the students.
The "debate" that took place yesterday was the final straw in what can only be described as a year-long disaster.
The SGA advisors and SGA president do not get along; it's plain and simple.
And that dislike has grown so large in the last two semesters that it has overtaken the fundamental reason for having a student government.
On Tuesday the SGA senate decided not to extend the deadline for senator signature packets, deeming such an extension to be a violation of the election policy. The election committee in its entirety then resigned.
Following the election committee's resignation, The Towerlight was asked to co-sponsor the "debate."
We decided to accept that request for the sake of democracy. We wanted the students of this campus to be informed about the individuals who will represent them next year.
But Wednesday's event was nothing more than a circus.
Team Tigertown decided not to participate in the "debate."
An SGA director, who was scheduled to be part of the panel, declined to ask any questions of the Foundation ticket or the independent candidate.
During the question and answer session, a potential senator who missed the original deadline date fought with the candidates who did participate.
And the former head election commissioner exchanged emotional blows with Foundation and then called for the SGA president's impeachment.
Meanwhile, administrators stood along the sidelines watching the debacle unfold.
What should have been an opportunity for students to voice their concerns became a personal grudge match for the viewing pleasure of about 50 people. Dirty laundry was aired for all to see.
Though I don't know how things got this bad, I do know that both the SGA and the representatives from the division of student affairs should be embarrassed.
The SGA is responsible for representing the student body and they failed to do so on Wednesday. The administrators are responsible for fostering a positive environment for student development during their time at Towson and they have failed as well.
And worst of all, it is the students who are the losers in this fight. How can they be represented when everyone is too busy standing around fighting like children in the schoolyard? How can they cast informed votes, when the issues have not been debated?
Maybe everyone should take a time out, go sit in the corner, and come back to the University when they can behave like adults.
I am an advocate of students voting but right now I can't see fit to encourage students to vote next week. After the SGA vs. TU fight came to a climax on Wednesday both organizations need to start from scratch and find a way to be productive for the sake of the students.
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