ASG changes needed for effective government
The most recent proposal for ASG reform is not a revolutionary cry or a plot to change just for the sake of it. The proposed amendment to the ASG Constitution - to be debated today - is a carefully constructed attempt to reconfigure Northwestern's student government so that it can more effectively help students.
After all, the purpose of a government is not to deliberate or legislate or pontificate. The purpose of a government is to serve. The proposed reforms will focus ASG on service, providing new opportunities for the organization to aid students rather than delay them. More specifically, the amendment would create two new positions, collectively making ASG more synchronized, more sustainable and more flexible.
First, the Vice President would serve as an advocate-in-chief for student concerns related to services and academics. Currently, the muddled bureaucracy within ASG's advocacy network produces overlap and confusion. The Vice President would coordinate demands from students with ideas in order to package a clear message to the administration. This affords our student government the flexibility to adopt promising new initiatives and respond to new interests.
Second, a human resources director would seek to recruit and train an ASG team that is committed to serving student interests. This position would also be responsible for objectively evaluating the organization based on anonymous feedback from ASG members and the student body.
We want to assure the student body that the efforts behind this proposal were in no way done to exclude others. We decided to act in a way that would efficiently produce a comprehensive, well-researched proposal to present to Senate, one that would stimulate the most discussion possible and make the greatest impact to ASG.
The Constitution is designed to serve the students. Though we do not purport to write on behalf of the entire student body, the four people elected campus-wide embody the voices of this change, all of whom support these amendments.
Others may ask, "If one of the problems is bureaucracy, then why add more positions?" While bureaucracy in government is unavoidable, mismanaged bureaucracy can be avoided. These new positions do not add another layer to the current bureaucracy; rather, they serve to synthesize the disparate projects that the various ASG bureaus currently perform. They seek to avoid the miscommunication and redundancy that too often accompanies bureaucracy.
Still others may question our original claim that this amendment is designed to serve students. If the goal is service, then why focus on internal reform? Simply, a broken system minimizes the ability for students to use their government and for their government to serve them. It is only with a better system - with a fresh ASG - that students can see their government not as a stop sign, but a helping hand.
We humbly invite students to attend ASG senate this evening at 7 p.m. in the Norris Northwestern Room to show your support and voice your concerns.
Neal Sales-Griffin, ASG president; Vikram Karandikar, ASG Executive VP; Nate Perkins, ASG Student Services VP; Michael Mcgee, ASG Academic VP; Samir Pendse, ASG External Relations Director; Jesse Garfinkel, ASG senator, IFC; Claire Lew, ASG Treasurer; Jillian Lopez, ASG Community Relations Director; Nausheen Sasha Shaikh, ASG Communications Director; Paul David Shrader; Maggie Jim, Malavika Srinivasan
Violence not the answer to Tibetan independence
"How can we free Tibet?" The May 22nd article from The Daily openly advocating violence against Chinese citizens in the effort to fight the "multi-headed dragon" known as China is among the flood of Western media covering the current conflict between the Chinese government and Tibetan protesters. While I am impressed by our sudden interest in foreign domestic affairs, I am bothered by the overwhelming bias, ignorance, and sometimes outright prejudice that have infected our judgment. First, to prevent myself from being chalked off as another anti-human-rights-liberty-hating Chinese commie, I am making it known that, coming from a family that has directly suffered from Mao's regime, I am no fan of the Chinese government. But I am also not a fan of rash, ignorant judgments, which, I might add, greatly contributed to Mao's success in oppressing the Chinese people.
I do not claim to offer an answer to the complex question of Tibetan independence. Consultation with reliable historical sources will reveal that many Western perceptions, such as the idea that China arbitrarily conquered and oppressed a sovereign, freedom-loving Tibetan people, are simply untrue. The bias of the Chinese state-controlled media is also unquestionable. But the prejudiced animosity towards China by people who stand for "liberty and justice" reveals an ugly hypocrisy that I find intolerable. These concepts are often selectively applied with little knowledge of the situation to suit personal needs. So please stop and think before advocating the brutal attacks on nonviolent Chinese citizens. Before attacking the multi-headed dragon, sober up. Some heads might just disappear.
Ran Li Weinberg sophomore
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