News Story

by Rebekah Farquhar

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

Stugo Overhauls Its Constitution and Structure

Brianna Knuckey and Stugo conducted a "launch" in early February
where they explained the revised purpose of Stugo and described new
positions for next year. --Rebekah Farquhar, photo

After three years with no working constitution, Stugo is overhauling its entire structure: adding new branches and positions, changing the job descriptions of existing positions, and rewriting the constitution -- again.

Brianna Knuckey, Stugo's advisor, said the restructuring has been one of her focuses since she applied for her three-fourth-time job. "We have been evaluating Stugo and asking, 'Is the student government playing the role on the campus that it could be playing?"

Multnomah administration and Stugo representatives agree that the current constitution is vague and ineffectual. That document, in outline format, was never ratified by students. Ms. Knuckey said that when she was hired, the only available copy was missing one page and not available electronically. "Technically, there isn't even an operative, functional constitution," Ms. Knuckey said.

"It has been piecemealed," Dean Kelly Fried, the director of student services, said. "The first need is to get a clear, working constitution."

Dr. Wayne Strickland, academic dean, said, "The unclarity has been in regard to lines of authority, expectations, the role of Stugo and the relationship of Stugo to the administration." He said that the reorganization should better define the mission of Stugo and how they represent students.

Ms. Knuckey has been working on a new constitution and job descriptions, with the help of Stugo and Multnomah administration. She expects to be finished by the end of April 2007.

In the past, Stugo's primary role, as defined by the existing constitution, has been to coordinate events for student fellowship, MCO and SWOT. "If you read our job descriptions," Stugo president Mike Myers said, "what you find is a quota that is events-driven. We want a student government that is more than events -- one that represents and enables."

As defined by the revised constitution, Stugo exists to "advocate for student needs and interests, empower student ingenuity and initiate occasions for spiritual growth, community development, and cultural engagement."

Dean Fried said that Stugo will be able to provide input on "anything that affects the lives of students on campus." He said, "Changing biblical absolutes will not be an option, but they will have a lot of opportunity to change life on campus."

The changes will improve efficiency, Myers said. "Right now, everything funnels directly to me, like somehow I'm supposed to be omnipresent," he said. "The changes will allow student government to be a lot less scatter-brained because they'll know what job to do."

Dean Fried said that the student government would be divided into three branches: the legislative, executive and judicial.

Rather than divide the senate by social groups, such as on-campus or off-campus students, the 12 senators will be divided by academic class and then assigned to represent various groups. Sophomore, junior, and senior senators would be elected during spring elections and begin their terms the following school year. Freshman senators would be elected the same semester they begin their term.

Dr. Daniel Lockwood, Multnomah's president, said, "I would love to have a class structure; it creates a stronger connection, both for students and for alumni."

The real changes, Dean Fried said, would come in the judicial branch -- a student court. "The students would judiciate most of the things that occur on-campus," he said. "My experience is that students do a really good job of taking care of themselves."

Dean Fried said that the judicial branch will "handle things that the RAs would normally give out campuses for."

And Ms. Knuckey said that the student court would also handle some of the things that the student affairs committee currently handles.

The executive branch's functions will remain unchanged.

"I'm confident that the structure of three branches will stay for a very long time," Myers said. "It is a good structure."

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