Being a member of the Senate, one gains an in-depth perspective on the workings of the College. This perspective is generated by knowledge gleaned from sitting on faculty committees, which provide one with an outlet to alter College policy, such as that regarding the recently released CAP report. The senate currently maintains exclusive rights to these committees, as elections are conducted within the senate and are open only to its members.
For the most part, students are completely unaware of the possibility of sitting on committees like the Committee on Educational Priorities (CEP), where students and faculty work together to shape the curriculum, or the Committee on Priorities and Resources (CPR), which decides the complete College budget. Did you know that four student senators serve on the Disciplinary Committee (DC)? Perhaps this is one of the senate's best-kept secrets, in that plenty of students elected to the senate in the spring are unaware of this fact, as well.
On the other hand, students who are aware of the existence of these committees and who are interested in serving on these committees must overcome a major obstacle-they must become senators. Often students are interested in issues pertaining to one committee and have no desire to serve on the senate. As a result, I propose opening seats to the student body at-large for the following committees: CPR, CEP, DC, Dining Services Committee, Admissions and Financial Aid, Library Committee, Physical Education and Athletics, IT Policy and Residential Life Committee.
By opening the committees to the student body as a whole, it follows that a reduction in the size of the senate is in order, as the responsibility is reduced considerably; therefore, I have proposed that the number of senators be reduced from eight to six per class.
Here is where senators have most strongly objected to my proposal. While senators argue that 32 are needed to take care of senate business, I contend that this is patently untrue. The senate meeting of Monday, March 6, during which a vote on my proposal was conducted, was attended by a total of 25 senators, only one senator above minimum quorum requirements. Now, if 32 senators are really needed and if there are 32 individuals who are dedicated to the senate and representing the student body, as a senator attempted to argue at that meeting, I wonder why attending the weekly meetings seems optional to about a quarter of the senate. The truth is that 32 senators are unnecessary under the current system. With a diffusion of duties created by opening committee seats to students at large, maintaining the current size of the Senate would only generate further inefficiency than already exists.
My hope is that limiting the number of senators to six per class will ensure that highly dedicated individuals who will speak up and adequately represent their classes will be elected. As the senate currently exists, it truly is a highly inefficient body, and I hope that my amendments will create a body that is more responsible and dedicated.
Unfortunately, the entire senate does not agree with the ideals behind my proposal and lacks faith in you-the student body. The major argument against this proposal during senate meetings has consisted of the following reasoning: Opening committees up to the student body would put students with substantial interest on a particular committee on that committee. I ask you to imagine the usefulness of placing a dedicated and interested student on a committee as opposed to a senator who is only on the committee because of his senatorial duties. I personally believe that the student body will benefit greatly from such a policy.
As a senior, I personally do not have anything to gain from the constitutional amendments I have proposed. I have brought them forward for one reason alone-I believe that students deserve a right to make informed decisions about who is representing them, in what capacity and in which committees. I believe in democracy, and I believe in the judgment of the student body.
With the full backing of the Judiciary Council, the branch of the AAS dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the constitution, I hope that you support my petition and referendum to limit the number of senators per class to six and to open committee seats to elections from the student body at-large.
Rothschild can be reached at jirothschild@amherst.edu