tl19511204-000 "( Plans To Be Presented In Assembly Today Special Issue STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE, TOWSON December 4, 1951 Representative by Bill Hammerman The reaction from the SGA as-sembly of last Tuesday has proven three things to me � some stu-dents are interested .and concern-ed about their student govern-ment; in general, the student body is not entirely satisfied with the present functioning of the SGA; and finally, now is the time to stop and think about what we as a majority want in the way of gov-ernment and how to achieve that goal. Before I continue, I want to clarify in black and white my ac-tions in the assembly. First, I op-posed the proposed constitution because of two major objections (there were many other minor technical points) : they were Ar-ticle I, section 2, B-3, ""at any meeting of the SGA a majority vote of those present and voting shall carry a motion"" and Article I, section 2. C-3, ""In case of any disagreement between SGA and the Administration, the matter shall be referred by either party to the All-College Council . . ."". In my mind the first clause was changed in desperation to read this way so that some legislation could be passed � but, should those persons who happened to attend those meetings (and in many cases it was less than 300) be allowed to pass legislation for 870 students who may not attend or aren't even represented in some official form? Secondly, in case of disagree-ment with the Administration, if it should occur, I cannot see the SGA turning the matter over to a council in which we had no part in selecting in any way, shape or form. The cue for my opposition to the proposed constitution was tak-en from our SGA advisor, Mr. ""Von"", who very ably presented our position at that time -- at the ""crossroads."" The second objective I wanted was an opportunity to present an alternate plan of gov-ernment to the student body be-fore we decided in which direc-tion to go. Both this and the tabling of the constitution was Provided by your vote in the as-sembly. That's all � there was no rail-roading or attempt to present the plan � only the right to present that plan was asked for. According to the SGA Execu-tive Board, I will be allowed 10 minutes to present this plan at the assembly today. Since this is hardly time enough to present the need for an alternate form of gov- SGA Agenda Today � 2:00 Compulsory as-sembly. Presentation of two plans. (vote for one). 4:00 Executive Board. Appointment of committees to write the constitution. Dec. 11 � 4 :00 Special SGA assembly. Discussion of constitution, re-vision, additions, etc. Dec 17-18 � Vote by ballot for acceptance of proposed con-stitution as presented and al-tered Dec. 11. (2/3 vote of student body necessary). Government ernment, I have prepared the fol-lowing article. Please follow carefully my thinking and reasoning � any questions, the assembly is the time. Before any reform, any leader-ship, any progress can be offered there must be a NEED for such. I sincerely believe that there ex-ists a need on our campus for a more efficient, effective, and re-spected SGA. My major reasons are (1) it took over nine weeks to prepare and present a consti-tution to the students, and when presented over half were not fam-iliar enough with it to vote for its acceptance, (2) when SGA as-semblies were non-compulsory, a quorum did not attend � conse-quently in the proposed constitu-tion they jump to the extreme op-posite end of the scale and say those who attend (no matter how Letters To The Editor Dear Editor, The recent controversy over the present form of student govern-ment and the proposed changes in its constitution have brought to light the great need for unity within the student body. At present we have a form of government which, if the students chose to support it as they should, could be ideal. Under our present constitution everyone has the pow-er to vote as he chooses, he may voice his likes or dislikes, but, to date very, very few of the student body have exercised this power. In view of the lack of interest on the part of the student body, several of our more interested stu-dents have proposed a new con-stitution calling for a representa-tive form of government rather than the ""town meeting"" form which we now have. It may be the most logical way of saving our student government from com-plete failure, but there are many things which must be taken into consideration. The total lack of in-terest shown by our student body is not favorable to a representa-tive government. If the students did not attend meetings under the old constitution, it is doubtful that they would bother to contact their representatives about their prob-lems under the new constitution. How is it possible to justly rep-resent 900 students who have such dixersified problems as do our students, half of which are ""day-hops"" and half of which are resi-dents? The different problems and op-inions of these factions are one strike against a representative form. One of the arguments for-warded by the supporters of this plan is that it is possible under our present constitution for a small minority to pass legislature which would be harmful to the majority. It seems to this writer that our great danger lies in the fact that under a representative form, due to the lack of interest on the part of the student body as a whole, (Cont. on Page 2) few) shall govern, (3) the vice-president acting in place of the president (SGA) requested a spe-cial SGA assembly as provided for by our Contitution, and was vetoed by the administration. Why the above? � lack of stu-dent interest ? � lack of student initiative? � lack of respect by the students? � by the adminis-tration? � lack of actual power? These are the questions we should ask ourselves and now while we're at the ""crossroads"" we should as a group decide what our goals are � can we achieve them � and how to arrive there? Due to the apparent need I offer a plan of ""representative govern-ment"" as one major step toward a more effective, efficient, and re-spected student government. In the study of this plan, many conflicts were encountered, some were : equal representation vs. population representation; in-structed delegates vs. non-instruc-ted delegates; where does the fin-al say rest, the representatives or the students ? These and many more were studied and considered in drafting my plan � the final result represents ""many compro-mises"" in order to provide an or-gan of government to which the majority of the student body will give active support. No plan is perfect � this one is not. The one major objection to any form of representative govern-ment is that it takes the direct vote from the students. Yes, this plan does just that � but with the consent of the individual (thereby maintaining an indirect vote), who by so doing, places faith in his representative to pass legislation and act in his better interests. But, by losing his direct vote in government, he is establishing a form that will meet the immediate need. We all know that the entire school does not write and publish the TOWER LIGHT -- we elect in-terested and trained people to the editorships � give them the pow-er to create the paper. However, we as students have the final say in matters through ""Letters to the Editor"" and by power of our con-stitution. So in representative government, the people select from these interested and exper-ienced delegates to run the ma-chinery of the government � but the people still maintain the final say through a system of checks and balance. So much by the way of infor-mation � now, the plan . . . The Plan 1. The student body shall be known as the SGA. 2. The Student Council shall con-sist of and be elected in the fol-lowing way: a) Each class elects six repre-sentatives. (1) day representatives (2) dorm representatives Based upon proportion of each in class at time. b) Each class elects one addi-tional representative for every 50 members over 150. c) Every reorganized organiza- (Cont. on Page 2) Constitution Proposals In Review I. Student Government Association Membership-entire student body Meetings-once a month Voting-majority of those pre-sent and voting veto power of any Executive Board action Powers-jurisdiction over all stu-dent matters II. Executive Board Membership Five SGA officers elected by the entire student body Eight presidents and repre-sentatives from each class pro-portionally Nineteen organizations receiv-ing money in the annual budget Anyone interested in attending Meetings-weekly (understood) Voting-majority of those present and voting Duties - legislate and exercise powers of the association, sub-ject to SGA veto. III. Committees of the SGA Election - Vice-president, ch'm. Financial - Treasure, ch'm Judiciary - Parliamentarian, ch'm Social - Social chairman, ch'm Publication - SCAN IV. Checks and Balances Executive Board action may be vetoed by the SGA Impeachment SGA officers as provided by the by-laws Representatives to SGA subject to organizations All meetings of Executive Board and committees are open to any-one interested in attending and (Cont. on Page 2) Present Plan In Effect By Bob Stevens There is presented below the outline of the proposed democra-tic SGA constitutional plan. It is in form a democracy because every student has a voice and a vote on all important legislation and policy making. Naturally it would be almost im-possible to formulate and discuss all the trivial matters that come up in the preparation of legisla-tion, so that is left up to a smaller, compact, and representative group, namely the Executive Board. From this Executive Board comes a definite plan that may be changed or amended to suit the student body and then voted upon by those interested in forwarding their student body and college. ' Some talk about a small clique attending an SGA assembly and railroading legislation through for their own advantage. This I do not rule out as impossible, but still we are supposed to be mature col-lege students and thus the likeli-hood of having this happen is greatly overweighed by the privi-lege of having a democratic stu-dent government where everyone has a voice and a vote. If the Executive Board should pass a plan where you lose your voice in student government you would have a perfect right to corn-plain and that is why your Execu-tive Board strongly suggests that you look into the merits of the plan presented here. Points to note in this constitution are: (1) as already mentioned, your personal check on the policies and the legislation of the SGA (2) one-half of the members of the Executive Board are elected by the entire student body or pro-portionally by classes (3) the SGA has jurisdiction only over those or-ganizations that receive funds from the SGA and therefore, these are the organizations that have the right of vote on the Executive Board. Editorially Speaking ... It is now more than obvious that the student body is in a turmoil, not knowing just what they want. How many of you have the past assembly's happenings carefully figured with a complete background? And more important, do you know what it means? As Mr. ""Von"" propounded at the time revised SGA constitu-tion was to be presented, we, the students, are at the ""crossroads."" This afternoon you will hear the plan of the much talked of representative government, as presented by Mr. Hammerman. This presentation, along with that advocating the present constitution and its representative democracy, as backed by Bob Stevens, will be given in 20 minutes. Ten minutes for each plan hardly seems adequate, and to call for a vote at the end of the meeting, when there may not be complete comprehension of the situation is rather unfair to the govern-ment and the students who will be living under it. Yet, these will be the conditions for our over-burdened vice-president insists it is neces-sary to have the matter decided by Christmas and be operating under the constitution of the accepted plan immediately thereafter. It is interesting to note at this time that there has been no word from the president of the SGA � John Zvonar. However, perhaps several factors should be considered � Mr. Zvonar lives off-campus and is student teaching; yet, he was elected to the presidency. It seems unfair that Mr. Stevens must carry on the duties of both offices with only an infrequent note from his superior. Under these condi-tions Mr. Stevens seems to be tiring and at times does not control the situation. Back to the governmental controversy it may be noted that under the present, not the proposed, the present constitution there has been progress but, not as much as could have been made. However, stu-dents only receive what they work for. Perhaps this is our main fault � we have not worked hard enough for our student government. Now is the time to think and to act � the results and their worth are up to you. J. M. M."
