TO THE EDITOR:
Legislation to redistrict the student body’s representation in Student Congress failed in a meeting on Tuesday. The final language would have eliminated two seats for graduate students and four seats for undergraduates. The bill garnered much debate and many representatives abstained from voting, which is why students need to attend the next Rules & Judiciary Committee meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18 and join the discussion on what the make-up of Congress should be.
Congress must annually assess the percentage of students that live in certain housing areas and are enrolled in graduate and professional programs to allot an appropriate number of seats. But this year, the R&J recommendations also included reducing the number of members of Congress by eight; something that should concern graduate students and underclassmen the most — as they’re the ones that have typically filled the seats in jeopardy.
I opposed Chairman Kevin Schoonover’s bill, but I support his methods for the allocation of seats. Unless the student body is ready to convert to representation by academic affiliation (something we should discuss Tuesday), Congress must continue to strive towards equal representation in the current districts.
The answer to filling empty seats is to promote a wider field of candidates and to hold special elections earlier in the semester. Reducing the number of representatives only limits the ability of students to be involved in our proud tradition of self-governance.
Attend the Nov. 18 meeting, and let’s create a redistricting plan that is inclusive for everyone.
Rep. David Joyner
Student Congress, Dist. 6
