The coming elections mark the beginning of a new era in the world of UIC politics. With Obama ascending the Presidential throne, these elections seem to be symbolizing change for the betterment of the student body. On the eve of his election, Obama declared that change has come to America and that whoever doubted that America is the place where opportunities are given to people, his being elected as a President, despite his race, is living proof. Yes, there will always be change in America because we have always fought for a better future.
We might have suffered for years under the leadership of people that were not right for us, but we have always given a chance to people who show that they care for us and are willing to provide us with what is rightfully ours. For instance, we
suffered for eight years under the leadership of George W. Bush, but then again we have sworn in Barack Hussein Obama as our President, giving him a chance to lead us to a bright future. My point is, even though many on USG's executive board have resigned, indicating that they do not care about our concerns, there are other people in our college, such as those from Students for Better Government (SBG) that are willing to make sure our concerns do not go unnoticed.
Many have expressed fears that like the former administration, the new candidates might also make false promises and retract from representing us. I say that we should give them a chance to prove that they are going to stick with us for as long as we need them. People are different. Just because one group walked away when it came to helping us, does not mean all others are going to react in the same way. The fear that some of us have about the new candidates is right.
However, as people of hope, who are always looking for the dawn of a new era, we must be willing to take our chances. There is a bright light at the end of every tunnel. So even though people who were supposed to be in charge have left us in the lurch, others have stepped up to supply us with lanterns filling the dark tunnels of our life with a brighter future. From my own personal experience, I can say that
I have met many people in my life who promised to be there for me but in
the end many of them retracted from doing so. But, I then went on to meet
people who did not just say, but also demonstrated that they were going to stand
by me no matter what happens tomorrow. There have been countless times
that people have broken my trust, but I have given many others a
chance and have learned to trust again. And you should too.
Next year, the student government’s budget is going to increase due to our fees. SBG
members have promised to see that our money is utilized properly. In fact,
the organization was formed for this purpose. It is a forum created by a
group of students who wanted to create a better platform for representing
us. They have come up with some very good plans Their plan is to donate
their student government compensation to the budget. Paying for college is already hard enough. Many of us have to work out butts off to pay for college and some of us
are even compelled to drop out due to financial issues. Our money has
always been used for funding the Student Government but this year we will
have the power to decide how our money is used, whether it should be
as part of the student government’s budget. So just think about
it…are we better off moping and complaining about how no one cares for us
and questioning people who want to? Shouldn’t we just move on and vote for
people who want to work for us and that too for free?? This is it people!!
Wake up!! Move on!!! Rise and rock the vote this Wednesday, the 15th of
April, for the SBG candidates:
Student Trustee: JOEL EBERT
USG President: BERNARD MARIANO
USG Vice President: SEAN MURRAY
USG Assembly: Geoff Berkheimer, Bernadette Casaclang, Danielle Schubert,
Cecilia Real, Sara Agate, Heather Kaufman
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
SBG voices concerns to Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor
On April 7th, UIC Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares and Vice-Chancellor Barbara Henley held a "town-hall" styled meeting in the Pier Room. Heather Kaufman and myself attended to ask some questions and to voice some concerns we've been hearing from students. Luckily we arrived early enough to talk with Vice Chancellor Henley about our lobbing initiatives to reduce textbook prices, where she was gracious enough to put us into contact with some great resources on the board of trustees.
Finally the meeting began, and though a panel-styled table was set up, Meares and Henley decided to form the seats into a circle, making the meeting seem less formal. Unfortunately, representatives of student government and the student trustee were unable to get close seats due to their late arrival.
Meares began answering questions and we raised a few topics we felt needed to be addressed. I asked about the upgrading of the structural maps from 1963, if there are any plans on taking care of this. I was directed to Facilities Management Director Mark Donovan, who I will follow up with. Next, we asked about plans to address the multi-million dollar deferred maintenance, and if there are any plans for renovations. Meares responded that the university is looking into using money from the stimulus package to help with these renovations. Finally, Kaufman asked about security within the dorms. The responses she received concerned possible new technology for photographing people entering the dormitories.
Regardless of the specifics, holding such meetings is the right step in the right direction, and I hope more are to come. Yet as representatives of student government, the job is to push the administration on these questions, not to settle for a back seat and remain silent. If the administration is beginning to show positive signs by beginning to reach out to students, we must take advantage of this opportunity and elect a student government willing to be right up in front to meet them, not stuck in the rear.
-Sean Murray
Finally the meeting began, and though a panel-styled table was set up, Meares and Henley decided to form the seats into a circle, making the meeting seem less formal. Unfortunately, representatives of student government and the student trustee were unable to get close seats due to their late arrival.
Meares began answering questions and we raised a few topics we felt needed to be addressed. I asked about the upgrading of the structural maps from 1963, if there are any plans on taking care of this. I was directed to Facilities Management Director Mark Donovan, who I will follow up with. Next, we asked about plans to address the multi-million dollar deferred maintenance, and if there are any plans for renovations. Meares responded that the university is looking into using money from the stimulus package to help with these renovations. Finally, Kaufman asked about security within the dorms. The responses she received concerned possible new technology for photographing people entering the dormitories.
Regardless of the specifics, holding such meetings is the right step in the right direction, and I hope more are to come. Yet as representatives of student government, the job is to push the administration on these questions, not to settle for a back seat and remain silent. If the administration is beginning to show positive signs by beginning to reach out to students, we must take advantage of this opportunity and elect a student government willing to be right up in front to meet them, not stuck in the rear.
-Sean Murray
Monday, April 6, 2009
On Distractions
This year’s election is very important for a number of reasons. The uncertain economy has affected numerous areas of our school. Because of the nature of the current economic climate, difficult decisions have been made that have affected the University budget, numerous departments and other essential aspects of the University such as LARES, the Campus Advocacy Network, and the UIC Women’s Community Clinic.
We have entered a pivotal point at our University and it is imperative that we choose leaders who not only have the best interests of the students in mind, but who are willing and able to make tough decisions.
This year you will have to make an important decision. The biggest decision you will face will be on election day, when you will decide who should represent you.
Over the next week you may have to make another decision. As seen during the most recent presidential campaign, distractions in the form of personal attacks may take place.
Negative attacks seek to distract you from discussing the important issues. Opposition in the form of distractions and negativity often reveals that the opponent has few options remaining.
You may either choose to substantiate these distractions or you may ignore them.
But no matter what is said over the next week, I urge you to look at the qualifications, ideas, and the capabilities of each candidate before you make a decision on election day.
The decision is yours to make and I am fully confident that you will make the right choice. With the important decisions the next trustee will face, I hope that you seriously consider this when you vote on April 15 and 16.
Sincerely,
Joel Ebert
We have entered a pivotal point at our University and it is imperative that we choose leaders who not only have the best interests of the students in mind, but who are willing and able to make tough decisions.
This year you will have to make an important decision. The biggest decision you will face will be on election day, when you will decide who should represent you.
Over the next week you may have to make another decision. As seen during the most recent presidential campaign, distractions in the form of personal attacks may take place.
Negative attacks seek to distract you from discussing the important issues. Opposition in the form of distractions and negativity often reveals that the opponent has few options remaining.
You may either choose to substantiate these distractions or you may ignore them.
But no matter what is said over the next week, I urge you to look at the qualifications, ideas, and the capabilities of each candidate before you make a decision on election day.
The decision is yours to make and I am fully confident that you will make the right choice. With the important decisions the next trustee will face, I hope that you seriously consider this when you vote on April 15 and 16.
Sincerely,
Joel Ebert
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Lobby Day recap
Yesterday was lobby day and it was a wonderful thing to be a part of the efforts of so many wonderful people. For those of you that didn’t know or hear about Lobby Day allow me to explain a little bit. Basically the University of Illinois coordinated all three of its campuses to send students, alumni, faculty and staff members to the Capitol building in Springfield.
The purpose of this event was to pitch to legislators the concerns of U of I students. We were representing not only our own stories but the stories and concerns that our peers face. Many of us that attended had the opportunity to talk with our state senators and local representatives when they could spare a second. This was not as easy as it sounds though.
Basically we were told to go to the offices of the given representative and ask for them. When they were not there, we were either directed to wait for an unspecified period of time or to go to the House or Senate chamber’s doors and ask to ‘pull them from the floor.’ Some people had the opportunity to meet with their representative in their offices but the best way to actually talk to them was pull them. This was quite interesting because you would basically write the representatives name on a business card and give it to a guard outside the chamber. They would go inside and look for the representative – and if they found them and had a few minutes to spare, the representative met you outside and spoke briefly to you.
This was really a small form of chaos though. There were hundreds of students that converged onto the Capitol today it was unusually noisy and busy, or so I was told by a security guard. If you had the chance to speak with a representative outside the chamber it was for a fleeting moment because they were in the middle of their session for the most part of the day – voting on various legislation – which was a whole other form of madness.
I spoke to a number of legislators and told them about the petition that Students for Better Government has been gathering, regarding textbook legislation. For the most part they were receptive and understood the plight of what it was like to be a college student.
I felt that attending this event today was a really powerful experience. It allowed me to see firsthand the way our state government functions and gave me a better understanding of the legislative process. Being a part of a coalition of students representing the University of Illinois, it really felt like we could work together to make our voices heard and ensure that our legislators have our best interests in mind when forming and voting on legislation. The coordinating efforts of the U of I Alumni Association can’t be appreciated enough for all the hard work that they did to make this year’s Lobby Day a huge success. I was quite pleased with the University’s strong showing and was proud to be a representing the interests of UIC and its wonderful students on a very important day.
The purpose of this event was to pitch to legislators the concerns of U of I students. We were representing not only our own stories but the stories and concerns that our peers face. Many of us that attended had the opportunity to talk with our state senators and local representatives when they could spare a second. This was not as easy as it sounds though.
Basically we were told to go to the offices of the given representative and ask for them. When they were not there, we were either directed to wait for an unspecified period of time or to go to the House or Senate chamber’s doors and ask to ‘pull them from the floor.’ Some people had the opportunity to meet with their representative in their offices but the best way to actually talk to them was pull them. This was quite interesting because you would basically write the representatives name on a business card and give it to a guard outside the chamber. They would go inside and look for the representative – and if they found them and had a few minutes to spare, the representative met you outside and spoke briefly to you.
This was really a small form of chaos though. There were hundreds of students that converged onto the Capitol today it was unusually noisy and busy, or so I was told by a security guard. If you had the chance to speak with a representative outside the chamber it was for a fleeting moment because they were in the middle of their session for the most part of the day – voting on various legislation – which was a whole other form of madness.
I spoke to a number of legislators and told them about the petition that Students for Better Government has been gathering, regarding textbook legislation. For the most part they were receptive and understood the plight of what it was like to be a college student.
I felt that attending this event today was a really powerful experience. It allowed me to see firsthand the way our state government functions and gave me a better understanding of the legislative process. Being a part of a coalition of students representing the University of Illinois, it really felt like we could work together to make our voices heard and ensure that our legislators have our best interests in mind when forming and voting on legislation. The coordinating efforts of the U of I Alumni Association can’t be appreciated enough for all the hard work that they did to make this year’s Lobby Day a huge success. I was quite pleased with the University’s strong showing and was proud to be a representing the interests of UIC and its wonderful students on a very important day.
Friday, March 27, 2009
"Happy Trails to You"
The time was 4:45AM when I sent my older brother off to save the world. We had our share of differences, but now he's off to the Peace Corps to Kyrgyzstan to help out a developing city.
While sending him off, there were no slow-motion moments, in fact the TSA security guards kicked us out for sitting in the ticket-holders only area. At least we got to sneak a couple of extra minutes with him.
You know, I've been all over the globe with him. I remember the long car rides from Chicago to...Florida, Kentucky, Texas, California, New York, and every state in between. I can't get over the fact that when we were young, we got into fights in the long car rides and complained a lot of the way. It was fairly easy to get cabin fever in a family with three other brothers. Together we saw the Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Canyon, Ground Zero, and every tourist trap imaginable from wax museums to a town with more fudge shops than any other local business.
Because of all those infamous family road trips, we've been conditioned to sleep every time we get on a car, bus, truck, etc. as a defense mechanism to pass the time. That and we've become experts at holding it in like no other.
However, this time is different. I can't go with him to watch his back in a totally different country. After his two year commitment is up, I'll probably be in grad school, law school, etc. I can't begin to imagine how different we'll both be. But he did tell before he left, that he, "was freaked out" about how serious I got about politics while at UIC. Now I'm not a political science major, but I am glad that he saw how dedicated I became to helping others out at college, citing the current campaign I was running.
So I made a deal. While he's across the globe, helping the impoverished, I'd do my best to make the campus a better place. A lot of expectations to live up to now that I've been challenged by a member of the Peace Corps to change things. I won't let him down. It's a challenge that I gladly take on. So wherever he is right now, probably sitting in a plane bound overseas, I'd like him to know that I'm up to the challenge...and that he forgot to bring his CDs.
-Bernard Mariano
Presidential Candidate
"Take Back the Campus"
While sending him off, there were no slow-motion moments, in fact the TSA security guards kicked us out for sitting in the ticket-holders only area. At least we got to sneak a couple of extra minutes with him.
You know, I've been all over the globe with him. I remember the long car rides from Chicago to...Florida, Kentucky, Texas, California, New York, and every state in between. I can't get over the fact that when we were young, we got into fights in the long car rides and complained a lot of the way. It was fairly easy to get cabin fever in a family with three other brothers. Together we saw the Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Canyon, Ground Zero, and every tourist trap imaginable from wax museums to a town with more fudge shops than any other local business.
Because of all those infamous family road trips, we've been conditioned to sleep every time we get on a car, bus, truck, etc. as a defense mechanism to pass the time. That and we've become experts at holding it in like no other.
However, this time is different. I can't go with him to watch his back in a totally different country. After his two year commitment is up, I'll probably be in grad school, law school, etc. I can't begin to imagine how different we'll both be. But he did tell before he left, that he, "was freaked out" about how serious I got about politics while at UIC. Now I'm not a political science major, but I am glad that he saw how dedicated I became to helping others out at college, citing the current campaign I was running.
So I made a deal. While he's across the globe, helping the impoverished, I'd do my best to make the campus a better place. A lot of expectations to live up to now that I've been challenged by a member of the Peace Corps to change things. I won't let him down. It's a challenge that I gladly take on. So wherever he is right now, probably sitting in a plane bound overseas, I'd like him to know that I'm up to the challenge...and that he forgot to bring his CDs.
-Bernard Mariano
Presidential Candidate
"Take Back the Campus"
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
An exciting election year at UIC
The upcoming election for student government at UIC is going to be one of the most exciting our campus has ever seen. One of the best parts about this year’s election is the increase in competition from last year. The number of candidates running for student trustee, president, and vice president has increased, giving the students a wide range of people to choose from. There are also several new candidates running for the general assembly that will be sure to make a difference in student government.
Students will have a number of opportunities to get involved in this year’s election. Two debates will be held – one on the west side on April 7 and another on the east side on April 9. These will be great opportunities for students to hear what the candidates have to say and to ask challenging questions – which is really important to do in order make the best decision when voting.
There will also be an event which is being organized with an exciting and new student organization called Students for Change. They plan on holding a meet and greet event on April 8 (5-7pm) inside the Jane Addams Hull-House, a place which has a vast political history.
I hope you will join in this year’s election because it will certainly be one of the most exciting UIC has ever seen.
-Joel
Why this is important
In many ways, institutions such as a university are built upon a hierarchical system. We have our Deans and Provosts, followed by Assistant Deans, faculty, graduate students and so on down the line. The hierarchy is distributed for managerial purposes, which gives certain groups the ability to make decisions effecting the other groups. In essence, we find ourselves in what can only be likened to a food chain.
Yet the existence of an Undergraduate Student Government allows for us to not be completely subject to these other institutional bodies. It allows us a certain amount of freedom, the opportunity to make decisions for ourselves, to step forward and take on the responsibility of self-governance. We must explicitly recognize the full weight of the term "self" as used here, for it means quite literally "student's helping students."
The fact is that we find ourselves in a position which we cannot deny. We cannot brush aside this opportunity by ignoring the things we know must be addressed at some point, by someone. The facts are that WE are in such a position, WE have the opportunity to enact change, and therefore WE have the responsibility to look out for one another's interests as students. We must always think of these rights as also our duties.
-Sean Murray
Yet the existence of an Undergraduate Student Government allows for us to not be completely subject to these other institutional bodies. It allows us a certain amount of freedom, the opportunity to make decisions for ourselves, to step forward and take on the responsibility of self-governance. We must explicitly recognize the full weight of the term "self" as used here, for it means quite literally "student's helping students."
The fact is that we find ourselves in a position which we cannot deny. We cannot brush aside this opportunity by ignoring the things we know must be addressed at some point, by someone. The facts are that WE are in such a position, WE have the opportunity to enact change, and therefore WE have the responsibility to look out for one another's interests as students. We must always think of these rights as also our duties.
-Sean Murray
On Transparency
What is the role of transparency in a representative government? The best way to address this question is via it's opposite, namely secrecy. Much has been said about secrecy, from its signaling of moral depravity to possible utilitarian functions. But the fundamental kernel of secrecy in all possible settings, whether public or private, is universal. Secrecy is the mask of fear.
Secondly, we must better examine the multiple forms of secrecy, specifically in how they relate to the dissemination of information. I hope it is not too far a stretch to state that when a populous is given the right to govern themselves, whether as citizens of a state or students of a university, the truth of the provided information for which they are to base their decisions is paramount to all other considerations in the election process. When democracy is run on deception, it is not so much a democracy as a folly.
Students for Better Government is not intended to use the Democratic System for any advancement through personal motivations, but only to preserve and protect the the democratic process itself. This can only be done with transparency. Because to think of transparency as an aspect of democracy is to belittle it of its rightful place. Instead, democracy should be the legal institution of transparency amongst people. In other words, transparency must and should always precede the democratic process, for the two are inextricable.
-Sean Murray
Secondly, we must better examine the multiple forms of secrecy, specifically in how they relate to the dissemination of information. I hope it is not too far a stretch to state that when a populous is given the right to govern themselves, whether as citizens of a state or students of a university, the truth of the provided information for which they are to base their decisions is paramount to all other considerations in the election process. When democracy is run on deception, it is not so much a democracy as a folly.
Students for Better Government is not intended to use the Democratic System for any advancement through personal motivations, but only to preserve and protect the the democratic process itself. This can only be done with transparency. Because to think of transparency as an aspect of democracy is to belittle it of its rightful place. Instead, democracy should be the legal institution of transparency amongst people. In other words, transparency must and should always precede the democratic process, for the two are inextricable.
-Sean Murray
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Introduction Post
Hi! Welcome to the SBG blog! This will be updated by numerous people, including the candidates themselves. Please keep an eye out for new posts about our current going-ons as we will try to keep you posted. We will also try to include opinion pieces about current campus issues as well as some newsposts about UIC itself.
Thank you for your your support.
j_holt
Thank you for your your support.
j_holt
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