Four members of the State University of New York Student Assembly have decided to run for seats in the SA Senate, stirring up quite a controversy in the process. Protesters say the SUNY SA members are a part of the executive board and thus their involvement with the legislative branch will be a distortion of the system of checks and balances. The delegates and members of the SA staff say that the two organizations are entirely separate entities.
The Spectrum believes that while the SA Constitution clearly states that SUNY SA delegates are not under any formal rule of SA, the chances of executive branch influence is possible - especially given the fact that the SUNY SA office is located in the SA office and the SUNY SA delegates were elected as part SA President George Pape's Momentum party in March.
Influence like this, however, is nothing new. Current SA Treasurer Anthony Burgio served as both SUNY SA delegate and SA Senate chairman last year, and high-ranking SA staffers have been known to run for senate. It is an inescapable part of the microcosm form of government here at UB. People politically active will run in the same circles, and influence - or simply the appearance of influence - is likely regardless of party affiliation or alternate titles.
Each year, The Spectrum raises concern about students fulfilling several positions at the same time. We must remember that representing the students is what is important here, not positions on a resume or a second stipend. The SUNY SA delegates are constantly traveling back and forth from UB to Albany, where they represent the UB students at a statewide level. This in itself is an important, and full-time, position. Being a senator is time consuming as well, and The Spectrum worries that if the four SUNY SA delegates were voted into the Senate, they would not be able to tackle both obligations at the same time. It is not fair to the student body for SUNY SA members to split their responsibilities in half. It may be commendable for these delegates to take on two prestigious jobs, but it is nearly impossible to balance two full-time jobs without losing any quality in service.
Ultimately, it is up to the students to decide who they want to represent them in the senate. Last year, just over 1,000 students voted in the Senate elections. The Spectrum feels the two organizations are, however, distinct, making the SUNY SA delegates' candidacy legal. It is the students' choice to decide who will represent them, and the students must decide how much overlapping in the political arena they are willing to support.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
