Editorial

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index
Previous Editorials | Send mail to The Voice

Hold Student Leaders Accountable

Critique George Bush. Question Ted Kulongoski. Debate the reasoning behind Multnomah's administrative decisions. But please, please continue allowing Stugo to operate unchecked.

For a short window each spring, the spotlight hits Stugo, and Multnomah's populace elects next year's student leaders. But do people understand what Stugo accomplishes? And where is Stugo's money, funded with student tuitions, spent?

Does Stugo even know what its job is?

The most recent Stugo endeavor -- a second re-write of its own constitution in three years -- makes clear that the answer is no. Current Stugo representatives have spent the past weeks and months creating an updated constitution that, with any luck, the next round of Stugo representatives will approve.

A portion of Multnomah's student body knows Stugo as a fundraising organization that raises extra funds to pay for its next fundraising event which raises money to pay for its next fundraiser which raises money....

Some see Stugo as an entertainment committee that, through fellowship coordinators and dorm representatives, organizes parties.

And others believe that Stugo "representatives" somehow represent them -- somewhere.

As brothers and sisters caring about their school, students must demand good financial stewardship from Stugo. Citizens demand accountability from their elected, paid officials; students can expect the same from their elected, paid Stugo.

To repeatedly hold "discussions" or "forums" or "campus chats" that offer talk, talk and more talk is not progress; it is evasion. Consider the alcohol-policy debate on-campus: three discussions, three semesters, zero decisions. While issues stay unresolved and students wonder what their representatives are doing, Stugo members collect their wage.

If Stugo members avoid financial accountability by merely illustrating future plans or ideas, ask them to describe true accomplishments -- goals that have been met. If their expenditures are wasting our school's limited resources, students must request that Multnomah cut Stugo from its budget. An indifferent or passive student body guarantees ineffectual leadership by a tuition-funded Stugo.

A pro-bono Stugo might be a more productive Stugo.

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index
Previous Editorials | Send mail to The Voice