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As I begin my statement today, I first want to share a little bit more about what the Student Government Association is and what exactly it is that I do to represent you. The Student Government Association, or SGA, is made up of five individual boards — the Student Senate, chief legislative body; SUFAC, which allocates your student fees; Union Board, which sets policy and programs in the Union; RHAA, who represents housing students; and Good Times Programming, who is responsible for most of the entertainment you see on campus. Together, these bodies comprise the Student Government Association. Obviously, these groups serve a wide variety of functions, and rely chiefly on the input of their members and the student population in general to function, which means they fill a unique niche in our campus community. As governance bodies, it is our responsibility to act in the best interests of the students of UW-Green Bay, and we do this in a variety of ways and on a variety of levels. Our mission is to act with the best interest of the student body in mind. Our job is to serve that group as best we can. Our actions are undertaken only after consideration of the desires of the student population. The administration of the University is always open to hear our ideas, statements, and problems so that they can address them — indeed, I couldn't ask for a more supportive group on campus to work with. There are those who have challenged that supportive relationship, who would advocate for working against administrators and faculty instead of with them. To those individuals, I would simply remind them that we share a common goal, a common vision, with those who are dedicated to higher education — to enrich the student learning experience here at UW-Green Bay and help us to grow as citizens and students. In analyzing where we're headed, it's important to look at where we've been. This past semester, UW-Green Bay has seen both triumph and tragedy, both success and hardship. Most recently, the University lost an extraordinary professor and a mentor to many, Dr. Anthony Galt. Dr. Galt served at UWGB with distinction for 34 years and his loss is shared by the entire campus community To look at tragedy, one need not look further than the devastation wrought upon our southern coasts by Hurricane Katrina, whose fury left thousands without a home and in need of the vital supplies and lacking conditions that we count on every day. However, this uncontrollable act of nature highlights that some good can come of misfortune, as our University community banded together to obtain money and supplies for those in need. Students from affected areas were quickly adopted into the UW System, and area businesses and community members all found ways to chip in. We truly saw the best of our students, faculty, and staff in the days following the hurricane. The same is true for the unfortunate situation that occurred early on in the semester when a student falsely claimed that she was attacked on the Cofrin Arboretum trail. While many students rightfully were outraged by the event, it led to an increased awareness of the services offered by the Counseling and Health Center, and led to an important discussion about security on campus, which only confirmed the assertion that this University is truly a safe place to learn. What is confirmed time and time again is the importance of maintaining a proactive approach to safety on campus, and continuing awareness of those campus resources that are devoted to ensuring that student safety concerns are addressed promptly and thoroughly. Yet still, the event that seemed to garner the most attention of the semester seemed to be the actions taken by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Office of Residence Life, when an administrator in that office requested that one of their Residence Assistants refrain from leading a bible study in his residence hall room. That event launched a political wind fury that quickly swept UW-Eau Claire, the UW System, and state and national elected officials into the fray. While the outcome of this discussion remains unclear, it is my belief that students who serve as employees of the state should still be entitled to fundamental, guaranteed freedoms. I don't believe that that is in dispute. The situation complicates when you identify the particulars of the RA position — their work environment also serving as their home, and the fact that at any time they may be thrust into a supervisory role. But these unique aspects of the job of the Resident Assistant are not enough to justify such limitations. I would like to thank our Student Senate for their interest in this case. I carried your message with me when I traveled to Madison to discuss this issue on a UW System committee. The continuing budget crisis in Madison has the attention of virtually everyone involved in higher education — and should have the attention of more students, who are getting hit harder and harder each year, and not just in the pocketbook. Each year, even as tuition rises, students are finding that their dollars purchase less as University departments and programs are scaled back. Resources are stretched to their limits, and the students are the ones who are impacted by those cuts the most. Recent decisions on campus regarding the graduate program and the Weidner Center are examples of campus resources that are jeopardized in the current financial environment. What is occurring in the state of Wisconsin, at least in the UW System, is the gradual shift of who pays for higher education from the state to the student. But students cannot bear the costs of higher education alone, and when not enough student money is coming in to offset the cuts that the state Legislature makes, an environment where campus resources are cut is inevitable. Historically, UW-Green Bay is the most under-funded University in the system, a fact that has caused UWGB to feel the sting of cuts to the UW System all the more. It is in these times that we, as students, fee payers, and members of the United Council of Students, should ask, "What have you done for me lately?" United Council is an organization that represents all University of Wisconsin students — a larger version of student government. Students at this University agree via referendum every two years to pay $2 per semester to belong to the United Council. But the higher education budget in Wisconsin has been in a downward spiral for years now. While the United Council of UW Students has a clear and unchallenged importance in Wisconsin's higher education — as evidenced by their successful lobbying in the state Legislature for an additional student on the UW Board of Regents — the United Council needs to refocus on who they are serving: the students of the UW system. Last year, United Council reorganized and created a Board of Directors, with a member appointed from each campus, which was a step in the right direction. But the past semester has shown that communications have broken down between these two groups, who sometimes seem at odds with one another. In my mind the connection is simple. The students of the UW System enable the United Council to exist - therefore United Council should be working on the issues closest to home for us. The UW System currently consults United Council as a primary source for student opinion - a much stronger connection between the UW System and the students and student governments of each University must be established. The Chancellor has recently announced that he wishes the University to grow to include 7,500 students over time. This growth proposal's main objective would be to meet the increased demand for higher education in Wisconsin's northeast region. Certainly the fact that UWGB now closes applications even before Madison is an indicator of the increasing demand for a UWGB education. Today, I firmly stand behind the Chancellor's proposal to expand the population of the University. This will not be an easy task in light of our current budget environment, but it is apparent that Northeast Wisconsin is demanding more UWGB graduates. For students, this growth would represent an increasing number of opportunities in a wide array of activities - from student organizations to international travel. I see this growth as an opportunity to diversify the viewpoints and experiences of our student population and give a larger number of students the opportunity to succeed. As I stated before, expansion is a difficult goal to achieve in the face of budgetary hardship. But UWGB has done it before. I applaud the efforts of the Chancellor and his Cabinet in the success of Phase One of their Capital Campaign, which focused on fundraising for the new Kress Events Center. That project will begin construction shortly. I look forward to Phase Two, which seeks to gain community support for academic life at UW-Green Bay. Obtaining financial support for learning at the University needs to be a top priority, especially given the shrinking resource base and that fact that many programs are already taxed. I am eager to replicate the success of the Events Center fundraising in academics through named professorships, scholarships, and endowed chairs. Speaking of the Kress Center, I am pleased to announce that that project is on schedule and within budget. Construction on the building is scheduled to begin soon; indeed, some of you may have seen the Athletics offices moving into Wood Hall recently. Construction is an important milestone that the students of UWGB have dedicated themselves to for many years. I have been impressed with the student population of campus throughout the project in their unquestioning support for a renovated and expanded athletic and recreational facility, and it is reassuring to see the many years of work take physical shape. The new Kress Center will make an excellent home to our Division One athletics program as well, which has continually distinguished itself. The men's basketball team gave UWGB Phoenix fans an amazing game at the Resch Center on January 14 against our state rival UW-Milwaukee. I have many friends at Milwaukee, and it's always nice to see them file solemnly out from the Resch Center after a crushing defeat. Likewise, the women's basketball has been performing admirably as well, with a 14 - 3 record overall this season. This past semester showed that the quality of our athletes does not just manifest itself in their talent on the court or field, but in their studies as well, with Green Bay the leading UW University in academic performance by athletes. Our athletics program deserves much praise, and also our support. Student tickets to games are free with a student ID. I would make a call for all students at UWGB, this semester, to actively participate in our rich athletic history by attending some events this semester. The athletes appreciate the support, and strong student attendance shows that our campus community is truly dedicated to the success of our athletic program. The Kress Center is not the only planned addition to the Green Bay campus. The University Union expansion, also part of the Campus Life for the 21st Century initiative passed by the Student Government Association in 1998, is also in the design stage right now. A few of the major features that will dramatically affect students are the addition to the Union of the Bookstore and UW Credit Union, expanded dining options, and a more unified student organization and student life area. But the project is not without its pitfalls; we face more budgetary constraints in the Union project than we had with the Kress Events Center, but be assured that the campus individuals and students involved in designing that project have only the needs of the student population in mind. There are some difficult choices that need to be made, as with any major project, and I have faith that campus officials will continue to act with the input and consent of the Student Government Association that has become a trademark of student life here at UWGB. I've been involved in Student Government for four years now here at UWGB, since I began in the Residence Hall and Apartment Association as a freshman. I've learned a lot about the way the University works in that time, but you don't really get down to the core of how an organization works until you're at the top. Our mission among student organizations, one that combines governance, advocacy, and representation, gives the Student Government Association a unique place within the structure of the University — in fact, we are the only organization whose is existence is guaranteed by law. Student government is potentially at its best a great informational resource for students at UWGB, as well as a body that fights for student protections and adequate funding for education. Our organization exists essentially to take the pulse of the students of the University and act on it. At its worst, student government is a stumbling block for students, a potential hazard that causes student concerns to get lost in a vast bureaucracy, that forces its member students to participate in things that they have no interest in, and that can cause students to walk away disillusioned by their leaders. In it's current form, our Student Government falls somewhere in between. I've used the analogy before that if the Student Government Association were a business whose financial success depended upon our customers, the students, having adequate information and representation, we would be operating far into the red. How many students know what the student senate exists to do? Or know what a segregated university fee is, or how much those fees add on top of their tuition? A 1999 survey shows some very dangerous facts for SGA: almost half of the students that responded know very little about what student government is or what it does, and almost 80% do not know what a seg fee is. Although with the publicity of the Kress Center and other projects, that number may have increased recently, I get the impression that the vast majority of our student population still does not know what their student governance groups are decided. Clearly our job has not been done so well, not necessarily due to the actions of any individuals within the organization, but simply because it does not seem that our structure makes it very easy for us to accomplish that goal. I outlined the basic structure of the Student Government Association earlier, but let me now tell you why that structure can no longer support our mission. Five independent boards, with independent leaders, make communication and collaboration increasingly difficult. Those boards also serve dramatically different functions, from programming on campus to straight policy recommendations. Decisions are made at a variety of levels in SGA, and a system of checks and balances, although one exists, does not provide adequate review. Frankly, we need a better system in place to obtain genuine student input into campus issues. In meeting at out winter retreat, the SGA Executive Committee, comprised of myself, the vice president, and each board chair and vice-chair, set to the task of developing a model for change. We identified seven goals that should be apparent in our new structure. The structure should be simple and efficient, effective at getting student feedback, have an appropriate set of checks and balances, have limited roles for individuals, a clear hierarchy, a separation of policy and programming, and lastly, sustainability. Given those goals, there are two models on the table at the moment — the first is a model in which the president and vice president oversee the Senate, the Segregated Fee Committee, and a judicial branch responsible for coordinating elections and handling disputes; the second model consists of a system much like our federal system, with an executive branch (the president), a legislative branch (the Senate), and a judicial branch (Election Commission). Although there are strong similarities between these two proposals, there are also resounding differences that will be worked out in the coming weeks. I want to stress that time is of the essence in this project. One of these two models must be chosen or a compromise must be reached by the Executive Committee at the end of our meeting next Monday, and the following weekend words must be put to that concept, which will constitute a first draft of our new Constitution. In the years that I have been here, and I'm told well before that even, every SGA president has spoken of reorganizing student government to better serve the needs of the student body. I am dedicated to ensuring that this effort not be sidelined this year. Your Student Government Association will be reorganized to serve UWGB's student population more effectively before my time as president has ended. On May 1 of 2005, I took over the position of president of this organization, and of the student population of this campus. It has been a great way for me to apply my studies in political science and public administration thus far, and I appreciate and admire the dedication, time, and energy that your other elected students have put into their positions: My Vice-President Teri Schegetz and our Executive Director, Kate Wondra; Crystal Jushka and Becki Hietpas, the chair and vice chair of the University Union Board; Erik Mims and Adam Warpinski, the speaker and speaker pro tempore of the Student Senate; Trista Seubert and Danielle Gaquin, the president and vice president of the Residence Hall and Apartment Association; Katie Gassenhuber and Sarah Oldenburg, the chair and vice chair of the Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee; and Jenni Turner and Beth Zimmendorf, the standing leadership of Good Times Programming. In addition, I would like to thank my directors: Bob Kranzusch, University Governance Director; Michelle Eis, Environmental Affairs Director; Angie Oestreich, University Equality Director; Michael Heller, Academic Affairs Director, and Mitch Bruckert, Campus Climate Director. Also, though there are too many to name individually, I would like to extend my gratitude to all those students, faculty, and staff that have given their time to participate in student governance at UWGB. Thank you all for your service to SGA in the past semester, and I look forward to continuing as student president through this semester and to all of our continued success in 2006. Thank you. |
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