Merced Papers
The Birth of Student Government at UC Merced
October 2006
Those of us who were involved in the writing of the constitution believe the responsibility of student government is to improve student life, serve as the official student voice to the administration and local community, afford the opportunity to students to exercise leadership, practice teamwork and communicate with a diverse student body, and ultimately to allow students to develop the life skills necessary to pursue a life of public service.
Last year, I served as the Chair of the UC Merced Committee on Constitution and By-Laws. The committee had over 20 regularly active members that met weekly over the 2005-2006 academic year to draft, deliberate and approve a constitution for ratification by the entire student body. The birth of student government at UC Merced was extremely difficult, to say the least.
The summer before the university opened, a handful of incoming UC Merced students researched other UC student governments. We collected, analyzed and synthesized the constitutions, by-laws, and budgets of our sister student governments. By fall 2005, the university opened and dozens of students expressed an interest in crafting the constitution; the process got underway.
Before the end of fall 2005, the Committee convened a public forum were students, administrators, the local newspaper and others attended to discuss the constitution; the day was Tuesday, November 29, 2005.
I specifically mention this day because I consider it a defining moment for the Committee and its members. At the meeting, tensions ran high as some members verbally railed against the draft of the constitution and my chairmanship.
Harry S Truman once said, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” I would add, “or just open the window.” Thus, the semester concluded and the Committee adjourned for Winter Break.
Upon the commencement of the Spring 2006, the Committee reconvened. I was re-elected Chair and decided to decentralize the process of further refining the constitution; I opened the window so to speak. This action energized Committee members, reignited our sense of purpose, and empowered each of us to continue until we reached our goal of writing a constitution.
On March 7, 2006, the Committee met to conduct final review and approval of the constitution. The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:00PM and we adjourned at approximately 5:00AM. For 11 hours, we did not rest.
In the final analysis, I believe it was the hours upon hours of time that Committee members spent together discussing the constitution, eating lunch, walking to class, staying up late studying, debating excessively, chatting about politics and building the relationships necessary and trust sufficient that resulted in the successful birth of student government at UC Merced.
I am not certain about the future of student government, but I am certain that at UC Merced the student government has a future because of the hard work, commitment and energy of each Committee member to make a difference.
Josh Franco
Student Body President
UC Merced |
On the Purpose of Student Government
May 2006
To the Students of the University of California, Merced:
The constitution we have crafted has been crafted in a much different time than those of our sister campuses. A lot has changed in the last few decades. Apathy towards government and politics is at an all time high. People generally distrust their government. And while distrust is not bad in it of itself, it is the kind of distrust that people exhibit which is most troubling. It is a cynical distrust, a belief that the government does not care nor take into meaningful consideration the concerns of the public. Such distrust undermines the government and its ability to provide the public good because people do not just call into question the power of their government, but their own power as an individual to make a difference.
A student government does not exist simply for the sake of existing, but rather it serves a genuine purpose and that purpose is to improve student life. Without a government, students do not have a body to which they can effectively express their concerns. It is necessary that a student government exist in order to investigate such concerns which are made known through both formal and informal channels. If a government does not exist, then students will have to direct their concerns to other entities which arguably are not centrally committed to improving student life. However, the existence of a government does not preclude a student from addressing their concerns to such entities. It is best that a student concurrently engage both the student government and the entity of concern if an entity of concern exists, which in most cases a student does. By taking such concurrent action, this will expedite recognition of the concern and a more rapid resolution of it. Therefore, to improve student life, it is not just the responsibility of the government, but also the responsibility of the student to ensure that the government is aware of such concerns and that the student takes concurrent action.
But to improve student life, it is not merely a matter of being a body by which students can express their concerns; government can do more and it must. To do more, government must never forget the individuals it represents and the community those individuals constitute. It is incumbent upon students to orientate their thinking towards the future, especially those who desire to serve in student government. For a government to effectively govern, it must first understand that the future is intrinsically linked with the past. The actions the government takes today will have an affect on the future. I contest anyone to amount a logical argument against this claim because such an issue is of vital importance to the future of student government and the concept of government itself. Here, I am adamant. Nonetheless, government must have a method to ensure that the future is taken into consideration when a decision is set to be made. It would be beneficial to establish a permanent body on the future. This body would be responsible for contemplating the future and regularly making recommendations to the entire student government regarding action that can be taken to better understand the impact of decisions on the future. By doing so, this is just one step to ensuring that government never forgets the students it represents, both current and future.
It is not enough just to concern government with the future, it must also be actively concerned about the present; now is just as important as later. To successfully govern, a balance must be achieved between the present and the future because to become too fixated on one or the other will prevent the progress of student government and its ability to improve student life. Balance is essential. Therefore, to govern in the present and keeping the future in constant mind, how can students ensure good governance by their government? Government must meet the expectations, demands and requirements the students set for it. Such expectations, demands and requirements include improving student life in an effective, efficient and equitable manner and an institutionalized means to actively and regularly consider the future. Yet, it is the ultimate recognition and articulation of such expectations, demands and requirements that will ensure student government’s thorough and continuous pursuit to fulfill them. It is incumbent upon those who are in student government to ensure the recognition and articulation of such things. A voice unheard is a voice forever lost and that should not occur. A simple desire to fulfill them within government is not enough however. The government must seek to surpass what students expect, demand and require of the body that represents them. By surpassing, government in effect increases the standard, sets the curve and raises the bar that future governments will strive to reach in order to be considered successful. Therefore, such thinking perpetuates an advancing government that is continuously improving student life because it is improving itself.
To truly surpass the expectations, demands and requirements of students, those who serve in student government and the students it serves must make a sustained effort to do so. This sustained effort demands open, honest communication because it builds trust and generates a positive, productive attitude that can be harnessed to improve student life. Communication is critical and it has been taken for granted. To communicate is to exchange thoughts, ideas and world views. In engaging others and sharing such thoughts, we grow as individuals. We grow in our comprehension of the world and desire to make a difference in it. And in order to make a difference, we will have to trust one another. Trust is a force that powers communities of individuals to move forward to demand more of themselves and others. Ultimately, trust leads to the enactment of change that benefits the present and frees the future. But trust does more. If I trust someone, then I can wholeheartedly depend on them. Such dependence is not detrimental. Quite the contrary, to depend on someone else is to recognize the freedom of individuals to depend on one another and therefore we achieve interdependence. We are capable of confronting challenges, lifting burdens and overcoming obstacles best when we confront, lift and overcome them together. To fail together is to succeed together and critical premise to note is that it was done together. With open, honest communication, trust is established and people’s attitudes change and change for the better. A positive, productive attitude fills individuals’ minds and empowers them. What was once possible is now probable. This fundamental shift in thinking is needed for the student government to improve student life.
As I have remarked elsewhere, enacting change is difficult because to challenge the status quo is a task that few endeavor to do. We, the students of UC Merced, are those few. We didn’t take a chance, we seized an opportunity by attending this campus. Therefore, I more than invite others to write on the purpose of student government, and whatever other topics relating to student government, for it is a purpose that we now all share.
I intend to write further on the purpose of student government, the need for leadership, the vulnerabilities of student government, the effect of a fragmented executive, the responsibility of an incumbent, the democratic efficiency of student government, and the power of students.
Best regards,
Josh Franco |
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