SA letter's signatories contradictory

submitted by Eric Read

April 28, 2008 —

After reading last week's Vanguard, I was really caught by surprise by a letter to the editor criticizing Student Association.

As a former member I know the student government is often criticized. But what caught me totally by surprise was how two students who put their name on that letter are currently members of SA.

It blows my mind how two members of an organization can attack this group in a medium like the school newspaper.

Furthermore, the letter criticized SA for not having enough funds for study abroad scholarships or RSO allocations yet it had money to award student groups. I find this interesting because one of these individuals chairs the committee that gave out these awards and if someone were that concerned about the study abroad scholarships and RSO allocations, wouldn't it make sense to give the money for the awards to the Allocations committee?

Doesn't it speak poorly of someone's leadership abilities when a member of a group criticizes the group in a public forum while not really trying to do anything within the group to address these concerns?

One of the individuals sat on the smoking committee that helped make the policy that isn't spoken well of in the letter; way to criticize your own work and demonstrate faith in your leadership abilities.

The letter said that it took a whole organization to pull off the incompetence SA did this year; what does that say about the level of concern or respect for fellow colleagues?

I guarantee any concerned member of an organization wouldn't support a letter to the editor like that one last week.

Lastly, I'm sure some of you are wondering whether or not your SA cares about you. Rest assured, most do; I was fortunate enough to serve and I appreciated the privilege it is as I know most of my former colleagues do.

Eric Read
Former SA representative and Parliamentarian