Each semester students run for various offices in our student government, hoping to make a difference. The BYU-Idaho Student Handbook’s entry on Student Government explains the situation best. It says only — “see activities program.”
Our Activities Student Council is the closest thing to student government we have, but the lack of real representation is a serious concern. Changes must be made now to ensure student voices are heard and proper lines of communication are established.
When students elect a student government, the expectation is that some amount of representation occurs so students can be heard and respected by faculty and administration. Our student government plans dances. They also plan sporting events, campus entertainment and oversee academic societies. In fact, our Activities program is one of the best you’ll ever find, but students lack the basic form and function of a student government — representation.
Many universities have a system composed of executive and legislative branches, and sometimes a judicial branch. The common thread is student representation that has the ability to make or influence school policy.
Harvard’s student government provides a good example of students, administration and faculty working together.
“The base of our power in policy and administration is through student representatives to committees of the college and of the faculty,” said Matthew Greenfield, secretary of Harvard’s Undergraduate Council in a letter to Scroll. The UC appoints representatives to 10 committees and the Council writes position papers on various policies, which are then advocated by representatives in their respective committees.
The process has been successful many times for Harvard, including the UC’s victory in getting the college to keep their undergraduate library open 24 hours. It’s a process that could work at BYU-I if given the chance.
Our administration operates with student interests in mind but without much student representation. Many administrative committees operate with students appointed by administration, not elected. On almost all committees, student representation is a mere formality because representatives lack voting rights — the key to effective representation.
Even when representatives participate in administrative committees, average students never hear information or conclusions reached there. The Student Council has no outlet from which they can disseminate information about its actions to the students who elected them.
As a private, religious university, we expect our administration to act fairly on behalf of students. Students should also be trusted to act fairly. Enrolled here are good, honest students endorsed by ecclesiastical leaders but not entitled to a voice within their school.
The current system is only three years old and does its job of preserving the spirit of Ricks, but an expansion of its system could improve things dramatically. Three changes could enhance our student government and help us “rethink education” using all our resources.
The first change is to make the student government more than an activities program. We need an executive council, an activities council and a student senate. A student senate would serve as the Honor Code Council to enforce school policy and advocate for students to the faculty and administration. The senate would address student concerns, removing burdens from administration, and concisely approach faculty and administration on school issues.
Second, student representatives must be given the right to vote within the administrative committees they belong to. By giving students a voice on issues affecting the school, students’ views are respected and elections are taken seriously. The executive council would appoint students to university committees to be ratified by the senate. Such a change will not often sway the balance of power in these committees, but it will make students accountable for decisions.
Third, student government officials must report their efforts and actions through an Internet site that is easily accessible. Information about the progress of the university can then be transmitted easily and effectively to the student body. Student concerns about issues being discussed in committees and by the senate can also be collected through this site, making representation real and effective.
BYU-I is known for character and student leadership. Enhancing the capabilities of our student government will only complement the innovation we have come to be known for.
As BYU-I matures, its dedication to developing student leadership must increase. Developing a new, stronger student government will ensure that students take responsibility and become actors, not spectators who are acted upon, in the growth of their university.
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