Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

STUDENT GOVERNMENT GUSA Defeats Resolution To Review Departments

Georgetown University Student Association representatives defeated a resolution last Tuesday that would have initiated student evaluations of all major non-academic departments.

The resolution, sponsored by Junior Class Representative Trey Street (SFS ’03), was introduced in response to growing student dissatisfaction with the university and its bureaucracy, especially in the areas of customer service, inefficiency and lack of expertise.

“I thought doing an evaluation of the departments on campus would provide constructive feedback to make Georgetown a better place for all those within the community,” Street said.

Prior to defeating the resolution, Legislative Assembly members expressed concern about creating more work for the advocacy committees. If passed, each committee chair would have been responsible for presenting extensive reports of departments within their jurisdiction at the GUSA meeting Dec. 4.

“I voted against the amendment because I had reservations regarding the criteria used in assessing the different departments,” representative Ben Anderson (COL ’02) said. “It was vague and I thought it improbable that it would lead to any permanent changes within the respective departments.”

However, GUSA said that ensuring the effectiveness of university administrative departments is a priority for their advocacy committees and a similar amendment could be introduced again in the future.

GUSA played an instrumental role in the wake of the recent attacks. Along with the Senior Class Committee, they organized student information tables and successive Days of Dialogue, co-coordinated the SafeWalks program, organized late-night extracurricular activities and worked with other student organizations to raise over $7,000 for the victims in less than a week.

“We are committed to keeping our campus safe, and when it comes down to it, students are responsible for looking out for their fellow students,” said Senior Class Representative Steve Glickman (COL ’02).

The Legislative Assembly also discussed the upcoming GUSA freshmen elections. Over 40 freshmen have shown interest in running for the four representative positions, with Sept. 20 to Oct. 1 being approved as the official campaign period. Elections will take place Oct. 2 and if needed, the eight students receiving the most votes will participate in a run-off election Oct. 7. The deadline for applications for the Freshman Class Committee is Oct. 8.

GUSA unanimously approved election bylaw changes limiting the amount of campaign posters. Under the new law, 100 posters will be allowed for representatives and 300 for president and vice president. Voting on a new election calendar that would move spring elections two weeks earlier to the second week of February was tabled until next week.

Campaign Georgetown also gave a presentation at the meeting and encouraged students to E-mail and write letters to Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams as a means of voicing student concerns.

Initially begun in 1996 to give Georgetown students a voice in local politics, Campaign Georgetown has since helped elect five students to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Campaign Georgetown members said their goal is to refute the idea that “off-campus housing for students is a privilege” and are currently working with other universities in a citywide campaign for student rights.

GUSA meetings take place every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Leavey Program Room.

All students can attend and join the advocacy committees, which meet at 9:30 p.m.

The advocacy committees include Academic Affairs, Alumni and Financial, Community Relations, Diversity and Religious Affairs, Facilities and Housing, Health/Safety/Justice and Student Services.

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