The Facts: CALS is putting together an ice cream social this Thursday so students may get to know their student representative and voice their concerns.
Our Opinion: More senators should follow CALS’s example and get to know their constituents better so they may accurately represent them.
This Thursday the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will be hosting an ice cream social so their students may meet the Student Senate representatives, as well as voice any concerns they may have. This type of interaction is a prime model for how representatives should reach out to their constituents.
Too many times Student Senate representatives either act upon the concerns of a select group of their constituents or merely for their own benefit. While some constituents have no idea who their student senators are, and what they’ve been voting on, others are actively engaged in holding them accountable. The major disconnect lies with those who are unaware. This is not a good way for Student Government to function, which is why the CALS representatives’ initiative to meet and greet their constituents is a good way to better the relationship between Student Government and the student body.
Student representatives in Student Government should take note of the CALS attempt to reach out to their constituents and do the same. Many times students either don’t know about an event or are unmotivated to go, for various reasons. As their representative you should take the initiative to make yourself accessible to them. Don’t expect them just to come to you—you go to them. Speak in their classes, forums, regular events they will be at anyway. Or better yet, set up events the students will want to attend, so getting to know you and your platform is merely a byproduct of the enjoyable event.
While the representatives are expected to make themselves approachable and known to their constituents, the students should also be held responsible. Plain and simple, meet them halfway. If your representatives are making the attempt to reach you and understand your opinions, tell them. Talk to them. They represent you; you voted them in there for a reason.
The whole purpose of the institution of Student Government is to build the relationships with the students, so students may voice their concerns, representatives may act on those concerns and bridge the gap between the student body and the administration of the University.
Don’t let this year’s Student Government fall into the traps of previous representatives’ lack of communication and lack of adequate representation. Set the example. Both sides should see this break in communication and should work to fix the gap so the student body may be effectively represented.
