Last week, in Technician‘s Viewpoint section, my colleagues published a scathing editorial about the inadequacies of Student Government. The piece, titled “Disband Student Government” was rather poignant, going so far as to suggest, “Student Government is broken and beyond repair” and “Burn it down and start over.”

I agree — but I believe the majority of blame lies more appropriately with the Student Senate as a whole and with a few individual student senators. As expected, the editorial drew the ire of many Student Government “officials” on the organization’s Web site:

“… if Student Government is doing a bad job, please let us know. But to those responsible for the nameless Viewpoint article(s), own up to your words. Put a name on your article; take responsibility for what you say. Because at the end of the day, the only people who seem to be upset with SG are those writing that section.” — Sen. Paul Cash (Freshman At-Large)

Don’t worry; I always attach my name to my columns bashing the Student Senate. In fact, if you search Technician‘s online archives you will literally find dozens of columns documenting the inadequacies of Student Government. If I recall correctly, I coined the phrase “glorified debate club” a few years ago. You see, the organization has a strong track record of failure. I could rattle instances off, but I do have a word limit.

“We can’t count on the Technician to provide a fair representation of the work that the Student Senate, as well as Student Government, does. Constantly we are quoted wrongly, and our discussions regarded as ‘struggles for power’ …” — Kenneth Webb (Student Government webmaster)

The truth hurts. Technician is not Student Government’s public relations mouth. In fact, the Student Senate has a constant power struggle — a struggle for what, I’m not certain. How many hours are spent debating useless internal procedure? It is the No. 1 activity of the Student Senate.

“It greatly bothers me that ignorant and liberal ‘journalists’ hide behind the faceless Viewpoint section to spit their acidic tirades. Student Senate has been extremely productive this year, working diligently on many important issues, and it is only by the administration’s incompetence that this recent debacle has occurred.” — Sen. Joshua Hall (College of Management)

Liberal? Ignorant? Seems rather trite to me. The only thing ignorant about this entire fiasco is the Student Senate’s failure to understand that it is the problem. But there is a solution.

“I find this humorous considering that the last regularly scheduled Senate meeting had more bills than almost any this semester with many coming from the academics and tuition and fees committees, which directly impact the students we are working for.” — Sen. Courtney Parnell (CALS Juniors)

Sen. Parnell, you made my point exactly. Bills don’t mean jack. Debate in the Student Senate doesn’t mean jack. Do you all actually think that by discussing an issue and passing a “bill” that something has been accomplished? What we have here is a failure to communicate. Student Senate “bills” are statements of position, not agents of change.

The Student Senate needs change if not utter banishment from campus. For years, it is the Student Senate, as a collective body, that has failed. All the positive accomplishments Student Government has achieved are a direct result of the hard work of individual student senators and Student Government leaders like Student Body President Will Quick and Student Senate President Zach Adams.

We need to rid ourselves of the Student Senate and the bureaucratic money pit that it has created for itself. There is a plan in the works to cut the Student Government fee by more than half to $4 per student. The fee reduction, which obviously has strong support from the student body and media, will force Student Government to return to its traditional role of advocacy. It’s about time.

E-mail Andrew your thoughts on who should take the blame at viewpoint@technicianonline.com.