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The active voice
We speak on your behalf
By Tyler Draheim and Tommy Hughes
Your Student Association isn't the student government we are all vaguely familiar with from high school. We don't go to movies or have fundraisers for new soda machines
Fall 2008. A new semester is beginning at Wisconsin's second largest institution. All sorts of activities ranging from cook-outs on Spaights plaza, to Sandburg move-in, to Pantherfest are bringing a dormant campus back to life. Starting a new year is always a time of mixed emotions; it can be exciting, stressful, scary and it certainly is expensive.
Your UWM student government, the Student Association (SA), has been working all summer on behalf of the entire student body. Student government might seem like a ridiculous thing to work on all summer, or maybe it just seems silly that the officers of the student government are paid.
Yet your Student Association isn't the student government we are all vaguely familiar with from high school. We don't go to movies or have fundraisers for new soda machines. SA is a hybrid between an advocacy organization and a government. We meet with administrators and faculty constantly to speak on the student body's behalf over parking issues, textbook prices and most importantly those hefty costs that have unfortunately become part of everyone's higher education. Not only are we charged with meeting with administrators to discuss the University's budgets, but we are also responsible for the allocation of $10 million of the Segregated University Fee (SUF).
Our Association is broken down into three branches, similar to our national government in Washington. The Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches of the SA keep all student government doings within a student process and are necessary to provide for checks and balances in the important work we undertake.
Did you know Wisconsin is one of only four states in the country to have a state statute providing for shared governance between the University administration and the students? This means that the students have the ability to create campus policy. The SA Senate is the voice of the student body. With 45 representatives speaking on behalf of every UWM school and college, as well as five freshman Senators, the Senate can pass resolutions, which ultimately affect student life, services and interests.
The Senate is chaired by Speaker Tyler Kristopeit (tylerjk2@uwm.edu). E-mail Deputy Speaker Mark Zeihen Jr. (mazeihen@uwm.edu) to inquire about opportunities to get involved in the Student Senate.
There are two important Senate committees; the Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) and the Senate Finance Committee (SFC). SFC is the committee that allocates segregated fees to fund campus entities like the Norris Health Center, the athletics department, B.O.S.S. and several campus resource centers. SFC is led by Vice President Tommy Hughes (savice@uwm.edu).
All student organizations are eligible for grants from SAC. SAC grants can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on what is being requested. Leaders of student organizations that need money for a specific event are encouraged to contact SAC Chair Emily Grotz ateegrotz@uwm.edu.
The Executive Branch is led by President Tyler Draheim (sapres@uwm.edu) and Vice President Tommy Hughes. The staff consists of 15 paid directors and office managers. The Executive Branch carries out the day to day operations of the SA. The directors are responsible for carrying out SA initiatives involving textbooks, neighborhood relations, diversity and legislative issues on the local, state and national levels. Another important function of the Executive Branch is appointing students to 86 university committees, which is done by Shared Governance Director Brandon Decker. The Executive Branch is also responsible for taking on all campaigns it is charged with by the SA Senate. The Executive Branch operates out of the SA Office (Union EG79).
The Judicial Branch of SA is called the University Student Court. The Court consists of five justices and is led by Chief Justice Michael K. Roberts. The Court is responsible for settling disputes between student organizations and for hearing parking ticket appeals. The Court is also the final interpreter of the SA Constitution and by-laws. There are currently two open Justice positions on the Student Court. E-mail sapres@uwm.edu for more information.
As the year gets underway the Student Association will be working on many different issues as they arise. We would appreciate your input and participation greatly. We currently have five open freshman seats in the Senate, and are excited to offer internships for class credit, which will be open to all students (e-mail savice@uwm.edu to inquire).
Welcome to the UWM community! Now make sure to get involved in your student government.
Tyler Draheim is Student Association President. Tommy Hughes Student Association Vice President.
> Comments
A Friend of SA on Sep 02, 2008 at 07:00 PM:
Word of advice: CUT athletics, they waste to much money.
Oh, and have a great year!!
A better friend of SA on Sep 02, 2008 at 11:08 PM:
Athletics and Bud are friends of SA. Do not cut them- instead focus your attention on the bloated resource centers!
The best friend of SA on Sep 04, 2008 at 10:29 PM:
Just cut the SA. Save students $10 million.
Or you could cut funding to services for minorities, eliminate all that "checks and balances" stuff, make all three branches of the government the same party, and rig the elections. That would increase efficiency. The trains would run on time, then.
Oh, they already did that.
SUFC on Sep 05, 2008 at 09:21 AM:
I am quite upset to see that there is still a bitter faction out there upset about the election nearly 5 months ago. Only when we work together do we get stuff accomplished. Another day has arrived, and the days of the past are definitely gone. Grover, Bahr, and Piwarun and other principle instigators from previous years are gone. almost nobody in the new group was not involved in the chaotic aspects of the election. No amount of complaining will change the results, recent resignations will provide an opportunity for new blood to get involved. Let's make SA something we can be proud of together.