The Student Senate is charged with representing student opinion and enacting change on the RPI campus based on that opinion. Toward that end, they have put together a structure consisting of committees and groups that allow them to best cover the whole campus, all of which is governed, on paper, by Robert’s Rules of Order. These rules are designed to make everything run smoothly, but are quite easily abused and can hamper progress. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened at the three meetings of the newly elected Senate at the end of last semester.
Before the legislative year gets into full swing we want to take some time to ask the Senate to remember their obligations to the students and the system, and abandon parliamentary procedure when it only harms proceedings. Obviously, meetings require some sort of structure, but the Student Senate is only a group of students representing others, a more laid back atmosphere will inevitably lead to more progress. At times, it becomes necessary to put a more stringent structure on the proceedings, but that should be the exception and not the rule.
While senators are bogging down the process, there is another problem that was plaguing the Senate last spring. More than a few members of the Senate have complained about the heavy-handedness of new Grand Marshal Mike Dillon at meetings. While his actions at the meetings more than likely resulted from frustration over the procedural mess, they did little to help, as senators became angered by his reprimands.
We hope that in the coming weeks and months, Senators focus more on the subjects and points that matter to the students, and not the procedure. Students have become very cynical of the Senate’s effectiveness of late, and the Senate should seek to overcome this. They have an opportunity to make an impact on this campus, and they should make every attempt to do what they can to change things for the better.
