The Student Senate met one week ago for its first meeting of the semester. Seven days later, it is hard to tell what, if anything, has been done. It’s time for the Senate to make decisions. And by decisions we don’t mean holding issues off until the next week. Students have been complaining about the new system of allocating this season’s football tickets and about flimsy plastic parking tags – but have they been heard? No. The Senate should be a voice for the students, but instead of listening to its constituents, it argued for a large amount of wasted time on what committee should host the Freshman Residency requirement issue. Student Speaker Evan Bergeron was called out by current and former SG members and this publication this past Wednesday for misuse of his highly criticized, student-funded SG blackberry. This student “leader” did not comment on the issue let alone do what this board feels he should do – resign. We commend Student Government for finally expressing disappointment of former Sen. Heath Hattaway after he broke the SG code of ethics by dropping below full-time status in the spring 2006 semester and not removing himself from office. But it took four months for the senators to reprimand Hattaway on his unethical actions, time that we feel would have been better spent addressing other issues after coming to a conclusion on what ought to be done with Hattaway. If things move this slowly inside the Senate, how are things supposed to happen outside of it? We know the senators have good intentions and want to get things done, but in this student governmental body, action needs to be taken without hesitation. The senators need to initiate discussions with the Athletic Department, the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation and other administrative bodies at the University and do what they were elected to do: voice the concerns of students. We call on the student body to attend the Senate meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Atchafalaya Room in the Union. Speak. We hope your words are heard.
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