[2682] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] Upcoming UA Issue - Student Group Property Ownership
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Kelsey Byers)
Tue Oct 17 23:41:25 2006
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 23:40:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Kelsey Byers <kbyers@MIT.EDU>
To: Steven M Kelch <kelch@MIT.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.62L.0610172230450.23767@ptolomaea.mit.edu>
Cc: mit-talk@MIT.EDU
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@MIT.EDU
> Many people engaging in this discussion seem to have a fundamental
> misunderstanding of the money trail and the basic structure of their
> student government. If you are confused about something, emailing
> ua@mit.edu will likely get you a good answer.
Not to sound like the devil's advocate, but I'd like to raise the
following point:
Most people probably do misunderstand the money trail. This is mostly
due to the fact that it's not terribly transparent; when people need money
for student groups they know that Finboard gives it to them, but most
people don't know the fundamental cycle of funding and student
group-administration hierarchy.
While encouraging people who are confused to email the UA to ask, I
suspect that most people here either don't realize that they're confused
or don't feel like they should have to ask the UA in order to understand
where their money is going.
In the spirit of educating your student population, I'd strongly suggest
that the UA take the initiative to inform the undergraduate body of where
their money goes rather than forcing us to come to you and say "I feel
like an idiot, where does my money go?" Your responsibility as elected
officials of the student body is to tell us what's up. If we're still
confused, then encouraging people to email is a good idea, but a basic
explanation of the system is owed to anyone who puts money into it.
Plus - fewer emails involved!
Would someone from the UA mind sending the student body an explanation of
the process? I know I for one would appreciate such a thing. I searched
and searched the UA and UA Finboard websites for this information, and
didn't find any of it. No mention of DSL or explanation of the Student
Activity Fee at all.
If you're going to expect reasonable, non-defensive behavior from your
constituents, you have a responsibility to communicate how the process
works. Otherwise the fault is really your own.
Just my somewhat offended $0.02,
- Kelsey
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