The Punch-Clock Student Government

OPINION

Most of the Student Government’s limited power is exercised during their weekly meetings where they make student standards, and decide how to spend their budget. Being one of the only non-studgov members who regularly attends these meetings, I feel uniquely qualified to comment on a horrifying trend I have noticed lately.

It is the trend of these meetings to, more often than not, end at exactly four o'clock. On the surface, this seems relatively harmless (who doesn't like bureaucratic efficiency?) but my concern lies in the details. These meetings are supposed to start at 3:20 but of course that is when class ends and people need time to walk, so it really starts closer to 3:30. This leaves only 30 minutes for the meeting, but once everyone finishes check ins (which seem somewhat unnecessary) only around 15-20 minutes remain for budgetary and student standard concerns.

While it is unreasonable to assume that every StudGov member will be able to stay until 4:30 every day, most of them should so that the meeting can progress. These meetings are pre-arranged and predictable so extracurriculars can be warned. In the past, this is exactly what happened and it led to a much more dependable StudGov. One COS even told me of an instance where he was interrupted while proposing changes to the student standards because it was 4:00 and that most of the members of StudGov had things scheduled at 4:00 and had to leave. It is ridiculous to me that our elected officials cannot put even an hour a week aside for these meetings, and this instance makes it clear that it is hindering their ability to take care of their responsibilities. When they accepted their StudGov roles one of the (very few) things they had to give up was some time after school on Wednesdays. It makes it difficult to imagine a student government that is actually able to handle its responsibilities.