It happens each year at Florida A&M University. Election time rolls around and a multitude of Student Government Association hopefuls issue fliers, free food and free services in hopes that you will elect them to office.
But after electing leaders, we need to make the effort to make sure they are living up to the promises upon which we elected them.
I covered senate meetings for The Famuan last semester. On Monday nights, I witnessed what was partly my fault.
Many of the people whom I, and many others, elected as “leaders” let me down in each meeting.
Some senators would come to the meeting late, others did not follow the business attire dress code and many remained voiceless – excluding roll call.
I acknowledge they are students like the rest of us and might have a class or a meeting during part of the senate meeting. But is it too much to ask that most of my elected leaders stay off “colored people’s time” and show up to the senate chambers at 6 p.m.?
During these meetings, when they should have been handling business, a few senators would take it upon themselves to air laundry and make their personal vendettas a show for all in attendance.
But I suppose bickering while deciding what to do with thousands of Activities and Services dollars is better than remaining silent.
And although what I am saying is reproachful of some, I cannot ignore the good that actually happens during the meetings.
Throughout the entire spring semester, there were certain senators I referred to as my “go-to senators.” These individuals were the only people who had a voice throughout the legislative process.
They were the ones setting up committees to reach the students, doing what they could to make sure graduate students’ voices were heard, pressing those responsible to find out how much money the senate had and doing the things voters expect from elected officials.
I am not an irate journalist. I am just someone who expects my elected officials to act accordingly. I would like to think I deserve that much since my money goes to pay them. Do you not?
So, whenever you have a problem with something on campus, find the people in power; work something out. When your class representative is not doing the job your A & S fees pay him to do, demand better.
Go to some senate meetings. Check up on the president and vice president. Find out how your chief justices are handling infractions. Handle your business.
Brandon Oliver is a senior magazine production student from Palatka. He can be reached at bdoliver11@yahoo.com.