Leaders of the Undergraduate Student Government recently brought up the possibility of dissolving USG Senate in an effort to reorganize. And although that idea wasn't immediately followed up on, some leaders think it will happen eventually.
USG President Chris Saunders said at a restructuring meeting Saturday that he mentioned dissolving the senate to USG Senate President Mike King. But Saunders later said he made the comment in passing.
Several student government leaders attended the nearly four-hour meeting Saturday, including representatives from the Association of Residence Hall Students, the Organization for Town Independent Students, the Interfraternity Council and the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance.
Saunders' comments follow a failed attempt last week to dissolve the Executive Student Action Council. Four USG leaders resigned their positions from the council the same night.
Dissolving the senate is not being considered in the immediate future, Saunders said, adding that his comment on Saturday was to make all student leaders aware of the need to restructure.
"I wanted people to think about it," he said.
Restructuring is a term used by student leaders to encompass proposed reforms and suggestions to improve the structure of student government. These suggestions have included reorganizing legislative branches and decreasing the responsibilities of departments and committees.
But Saunders refused to comment further yesterday, saying the senate dissolving is not an issue.
The senate is made up of representatives elected by students. Each dorm area, downtown students and the fraternity area each have senators that represent them.
USG Senate President Mike King admitted that when Saunders approached him with the idea immediately before the meeting Saturday, he "almost had a heart attack."
But Saunders' idea served as a wake-up call, King said, adding that he will continue to help move forward with restructuring efforts.
Although many of the senators agree that the senate faces dissolution, most believe it will not occur in the near future. But a resolution was passed at the senate meeting Tuesday night supporting restructuring efforts. The senate resolved to "support legitimate and serious efforts to explore ideas and plans about a possible restructuring of student government as a whole."
Town Senator Josh Bokee said he favors restructuring USG.
"Ultimately, I would like to see USG and the other student government organizations changed completely," he said.
Bokee said some of the senate's problem is its duplication of efforts of other organizations. He sees student government's future as a unified one that better represents the students.
USG Vice President Heather Shore said the meeting Saturday was the first time she had heard of the possibility that the senate would be dissolved. Shore said she believes restructuring will happen eventually, but not any time soon.
"I'm not even looking that far into the future," she said. Shore, who chairs senate meetings, said the senate is not her jurisdiction because she holds a nonvoting seat.
South Halls Senator Jitu Modi also said student government's structure needs to be changed in order to present a unified voice. He believes Saunders mentioned dissolution to show a sense of urgency because past efforts to restructure have failed.
Pollock/Nittany Senator Lisa Fields said she believes the senate would not be dissolved until another form of student government could take its place.
"We can't just radically dissolve everything," she said.
King agreed that another form of government is needed before the current one can be replaced.
"We're not going to dissolve until we have something to replace it with," King said, adding that he does not know what would replace the current structure, but it will be up to students.
Bokee said he does not believe USG's push to restructure will affect the coming elections.
Fields agreed, pointing out that it could even benefit the elections because people are becoming more aware and interested in USG, which could result in a higher voter turnout.
