Spring Break
Letters to the editor: USGA hard at work for the student body
Issue date: 5/30/08 Section: Ed-Op
Dear Editor,
In recent weeks, the Undergraduate Student Government Association has come under harsh criticism for not engaging students, not addressing their concerns to cause real change, being in cahoots with administrators and not having enough visibility.
I am not going to stand on my soap box and say these are all baseless accusations; every successful organization has its flaws and needs constructive criticism to improve. We do have a problem with our visibility. This has been something we struggle with every day in our organization. Every year we try something new, and more students do become engaged.
Little by little, you will be amazed by what we can do and what we have done. The hardened words cast upon us may lead to doubt among the students who have been engaged by us, who have been helped by us, who do believe in us, as well as those who don't know us; but these words will not break the spirit of our organization.
The students matter to us; we listen, we act. We are not a tight-knit group just out to appease the administration and ignore the students. The issues we advocate are rarely beneficial to ourselves. For example, I had over 4,000 students take a survey to bring back the SEPTA discount pass program. I advocated for the laundry facilities to be changed in the residence halls two years ago with support from hundreds of residents. I helped facilitate meetings between the student population and our University president. These issues were based solely upon the voices of thousands of students. I didn't realize that students actually wanted to spend more on their commute, pay extra to ensure their clothes were dried by faulty machines, and never interact with University administrators.
To suggest we are merely puppets of the administrators is to not know the USGA. I know that I, personally, have been a huge cost to the administration. Whether it is a cost financially or in their time and resources, they know I always come armed with an agenda full of feedback.
In recent weeks, the Undergraduate Student Government Association has come under harsh criticism for not engaging students, not addressing their concerns to cause real change, being in cahoots with administrators and not having enough visibility.
I am not going to stand on my soap box and say these are all baseless accusations; every successful organization has its flaws and needs constructive criticism to improve. We do have a problem with our visibility. This has been something we struggle with every day in our organization. Every year we try something new, and more students do become engaged.
Little by little, you will be amazed by what we can do and what we have done. The hardened words cast upon us may lead to doubt among the students who have been engaged by us, who have been helped by us, who do believe in us, as well as those who don't know us; but these words will not break the spirit of our organization.
The students matter to us; we listen, we act. We are not a tight-knit group just out to appease the administration and ignore the students. The issues we advocate are rarely beneficial to ourselves. For example, I had over 4,000 students take a survey to bring back the SEPTA discount pass program. I advocated for the laundry facilities to be changed in the residence halls two years ago with support from hundreds of residents. I helped facilitate meetings between the student population and our University president. These issues were based solely upon the voices of thousands of students. I didn't realize that students actually wanted to spend more on their commute, pay extra to ensure their clothes were dried by faulty machines, and never interact with University administrators.
To suggest we are merely puppets of the administrators is to not know the USGA. I know that I, personally, have been a huge cost to the administration. Whether it is a cost financially or in their time and resources, they know I always come armed with an agenda full of feedback.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Nilesh
posted 6/03/08 @ 9:29 PM EST
If USGA wants to be really helpful to the student body, then strive to get Drexel administrators to hire professors who are at Drexel to teach rather then research. (Continued…)
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