Election results prove Forum's need for change
Campus Times
May 7, 1999
Following last week's elections to amend the Associated Students Federation
(ASF) Constitution, it was determined that students at the University of
La Verne were prepared for a change.
Out of 187 students who voted on the matter, 156 (little more than 80
percent) were in favor of the proposed constitutional changes.
"The outcome of the vote tells me that the students know that there
needs to be a change in how ASF functions," said senior Michael Morrow,
president of the Forum. "They're telling ASF they agree with the Forum
that there needs to be an increased focus on advocacy."
In regards to the ratification and implementation of the constitutional
changes, Morrow said that next year's Forum will be broken down into two
individual entities, all under one general Forum.
New members will be elected to either the Board of Advocacy (which consists
of Senators) or the Board of Activities (the Commissioners) to help them
concentrate on a specific area of interest and/or strength.
"It's something that has been in discussion for months, but we
only really started a month ago," Morrow said in regards to the first-time
amendments to the Forum's format were proposed. "We could see that
the format wasn't performing enough advocacy as it was formed."
Morrow also said that he and junior Forum member Fred Baker began "reviewing
options to improve that function," looking at governmental bodies of
other colleges in doing so. They collected information from local institutions
such as Chapman University, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
(Cal Poly Pomona), and Citrus Community College, each an institution similar
to ULV.
With the ratification of the Forum's constitution, several factors will
be revised for the upcoming school year. For the most part, the separation
of committees within the Forum will allow for numerous students to be an
integral part of each entity. Senators' primary responsibilities will be
to focus on political issues, whereas commissioners' duties will be to concentrate
on recreational activities for students.
Each entity will be composed of up to eight main representatives, with
each commissioner and each senator appointed a specific area of University
life. Senators and commissioners will be granted the freedom to appoint
a ULV student as their individual assistants.
Because the Forum will be broken down into two bodies, changes within
the general executive board will also be made. For example, presidency for
the Forum will be open to only one individual, but the position of the vice
president will now be available to two students, one to help direct each
Board.
Also, what currently exists as the Board of Trustees position will be
dropped from the executive board. Next year and thereafter, the ASF president
will take charge of that position as a representative of the Forum.
The addition of a director of public relations will be implemented into
the executive board as well. This individual will take charge for the publicity
and promotion of all Forum-sponsored activities throughout the year.
Other changes in the new government system will include the disbanding
of the Financial Review Board, through which all Forum members will now
make all decisions on financial matters. An additional faculty adviser will
be elected to assist with the operation of the individual Boards; and the
implementation of a Judicial Affairs Council that will consist of two residents,
two commuters and two Forum members will be chaired by the ASF President.
"I think you're going to see a radically different student government,"
said Morrow, adding that he anticipates a lot of potential and success for
next year's Forum.
"We're going to be bringing speakers and fighting student apathy,"
he said. "There will be more balance, but I wouldn't say the activities
would suffer.
"We'd just do both much more effectively."
With the new changes made to the student government, future Forum members
will be required to meet, as a whole, a minimum of twice a month. Also,
the individual Boards will be required to meet at least twice monthly.
Morrow said the times and days at which each individual Board meets
is to the discretion of its members.
"Some may choose to meet on the days the entire Forum doesn't meet,
some might meet on the same day ... it's up to them," he said.
In addition, Morrow said he anticipates a great deal of accomplishment
from next year's student government.
"I think this year's group is one that is not as well respected
as they deserve [to be], but they are doing the best they can," said
Morrow. "I am hoping that 1999-2000 group will be one of the most well-known
and respected organizations on this campus.
"I believe it's going to bring about a more diverse group of people
who increase the way student government works," said Morrow. "They
will continue to bring education and enlightening activities to students."
