Spring Break
Professor evaluates ASG's performance
Dave Matthews
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Campus
Although no one in Associated Student Government (ASG) had any idea who he was during the two years he sat in on senate meetings, ASG was all ears when Peter Magolda presented his findings Tuesday night.
In a PowerPoint slideshow titled "Political Actions of College Students," Magolda, a professor of educational leadership at Miami, discussed several key observations he made while observing ASG for two years-including Miami students' perception of ASG, and how to create a more effective senate.
Magolda said that even if ASG ignores his recommendations, at least listening to his research will help them from going into "auto-pilot mode."
The professor found that ASG's heaviest emphasis was on funding student organizations, followed by creating bills for student affairs (for example, putting up new bus stop signs) and organizational improvement (replacing senators).
Magolda stressed that ASG had to focus on balancing its activities, such as giving equal amount of time to working on bills that serve ASG and bills that serve ASG's constituents, as well as balancing the drafting of legislation that support campus-wide action versus legislation that creates campus-wide action.
Magolda found that a large amount of ASG's legislation focused on the support of the action of others.
Magolda said that establishing better communication between Miami's students and ASG was key to optimizing the group's effectiveness.
Magolda took on the task because he said he spent his whole career researching college students and their actions and groups.
Student Body President Jens Sutmöller said he enjoyed the Magolda's presentation, and his ability to provide constructive criticism.
"He has a very unique perspective as an academic," he said.
Sutmöller said he would take several of Magolda's recommendations into account while his task force prepares to revamp the whole of senate in the upcoming months.
Among the changes to senate will be re-evaluating what constituencies ASG should represent (currently it strictly represents on- and off-campus students and it may soon include senators from other student organizations as well), change the responsibilities of certain cabinet positions and reforming elections. Sutmöller and Douglas Haynes are two of the remaining ASG members who are involved in the task force.
Despite providing recommendations, Magolda stressed that he did not do his research in order to evaluate ASG, but to observe how college student governments work. He also commended the efforts of those serving in student government.
"Student government is like dining hall food, it's fashionable to complain about," he said. "But if folks took a closer look and saw what these guys do … people would be happier too."
In a PowerPoint slideshow titled "Political Actions of College Students," Magolda, a professor of educational leadership at Miami, discussed several key observations he made while observing ASG for two years-including Miami students' perception of ASG, and how to create a more effective senate.
Magolda said that even if ASG ignores his recommendations, at least listening to his research will help them from going into "auto-pilot mode."
The professor found that ASG's heaviest emphasis was on funding student organizations, followed by creating bills for student affairs (for example, putting up new bus stop signs) and organizational improvement (replacing senators).
Magolda stressed that ASG had to focus on balancing its activities, such as giving equal amount of time to working on bills that serve ASG and bills that serve ASG's constituents, as well as balancing the drafting of legislation that support campus-wide action versus legislation that creates campus-wide action.
Magolda found that a large amount of ASG's legislation focused on the support of the action of others.
Magolda said that establishing better communication between Miami's students and ASG was key to optimizing the group's effectiveness.
Magolda took on the task because he said he spent his whole career researching college students and their actions and groups.
Student Body President Jens Sutmöller said he enjoyed the Magolda's presentation, and his ability to provide constructive criticism.
"He has a very unique perspective as an academic," he said.
Sutmöller said he would take several of Magolda's recommendations into account while his task force prepares to revamp the whole of senate in the upcoming months.
Among the changes to senate will be re-evaluating what constituencies ASG should represent (currently it strictly represents on- and off-campus students and it may soon include senators from other student organizations as well), change the responsibilities of certain cabinet positions and reforming elections. Sutmöller and Douglas Haynes are two of the remaining ASG members who are involved in the task force.
Despite providing recommendations, Magolda stressed that he did not do his research in order to evaluate ASG, but to observe how college student governments work. He also commended the efforts of those serving in student government.
"Student government is like dining hall food, it's fashionable to complain about," he said. "But if folks took a closer look and saw what these guys do … people would be happier too."
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