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How I got involved in student government
Yesterday, I got asked an intriguing question by FlyingAcorn. Why exactly did I join student government? The simple answer is that I got suckered in by free pizza. The more complicated version involves pizza, but goes on into meeting all sorts of interesting people. Without a doubt, I've met some of the hardest working people on TU's campus.
First week, freshman year I go to get some free pizza in the lobby of my dorm, LaFortune House. Hmmm, looks like they're going to have a meeting afterwards but that's okay. What? I'm now a community service chair?!? Aw snap. At least I didn't volunteer to become the treasurer.
However, I got snookered into being the vice president. Our previous one resigned because he didn't want to go to the RHA meetings. The Residence Hall Assocation was the umbrella organization for all hall governments. They threatened to cut some of LaFortune's funding if we didn't send a representative soon. After a long, awkward silence I volunteered to go to one meeting. As you know with these things, you go to one and you have to go to all of them. The consolation prize was getting to be the veep.
A few weeks later, it turns out we needed a senator to represent LaFortune for the Student Assocation, i.e. the offical overseer of all student organizations on campus. What the heck, I might as well do a write in candidacy. It turned to be a tie. The run off vote turned out to be a tie. We then had a mandatory Senate meeting so they could decide between the two of us. The other guy didn't show up, so I became LaFortune's senator by default.
I got plenty more summary that I could do, but I really haven't answered Heather's question at this point. Let me espouse a bit of bitterness first. I don't like parliamentary procedure. I don't like a majority of the people in student government. I certainly don't like how the system works.
So what do I like about it? I get to know that I'm at least putting in a say on the hundred plus dollars of student fees that I pay. I like to know what's going on around the campus. Most of all, I'd like to think that I'm making a difference on my college experience.
First week, freshman year I go to get some free pizza in the lobby of my dorm, LaFortune House. Hmmm, looks like they're going to have a meeting afterwards but that's okay. What? I'm now a community service chair?!? Aw snap. At least I didn't volunteer to become the treasurer.
However, I got snookered into being the vice president. Our previous one resigned because he didn't want to go to the RHA meetings. The Residence Hall Assocation was the umbrella organization for all hall governments. They threatened to cut some of LaFortune's funding if we didn't send a representative soon. After a long, awkward silence I volunteered to go to one meeting. As you know with these things, you go to one and you have to go to all of them. The consolation prize was getting to be the veep.
A few weeks later, it turns out we needed a senator to represent LaFortune for the Student Assocation, i.e. the offical overseer of all student organizations on campus. What the heck, I might as well do a write in candidacy. It turned to be a tie. The run off vote turned out to be a tie. We then had a mandatory Senate meeting so they could decide between the two of us. The other guy didn't show up, so I became LaFortune's senator by default.
I got plenty more summary that I could do, but I really haven't answered Heather's question at this point. Let me espouse a bit of bitterness first. I don't like parliamentary procedure. I don't like a majority of the people in student government. I certainly don't like how the system works.
So what do I like about it? I get to know that I'm at least putting in a say on the hundred plus dollars of student fees that I pay. I like to know what's going on around the campus. Most of all, I'd like to think that I'm making a difference on my college experience.