If you were elected to the Associated Students of Madison as a write-in candidate, would you know it? Apparently I was, but I am still trying to figure out what ASM does. I accepted being part of a write-in campaign partly out of curiosity, and partly because the School of Education didn't have anyone running and the former rep sweetly asked me to run.
A few returning members, most notably Tyler Junger and Kurt Gosselin, put together a contract and asked me to sign onto it. I thought it sounded good, so I signed. I am still unsure of what it was that I signed up for, and I am not sure that this is a good thing or bad thing or neither. It is to be determined, I guess.
That ASM has been the butt of many jokes for innumerable years is no secret, and my lack of involvement in school politics is a classic case. I am an informed and conscientious observer of many things locally and globally. I try to read the papers every day and keep myself abreast of interesting and newsworthy events. But never in my time on campus have I ever felt the urge to get informed on the workings of our student government. I knew I got a bus pass from them and many of the student organization fees I pay were controlled by them, but not much more than that. The internal fighting has always seemed petty and incestuous. The players always seemed to be self-interested, and the body itself always seemed to be outside the workings of students' day-to-day lives. The entity lacked accessibility, accountability and relevancy.
What does it say about an organization that controls millions of dollars but has no serious candidates run from an entire school? I think it says that ASM is out of touch and insignificant. It says the majority of students don't feel that it is worth their time to even look into what the student government can do for them and their fellow classmates. It also says that the way the student government has previously been operating has been defunct of content, efficacy, applicability and fun. Its operations have been seen as so insular that no one besides a select few student paper editorial columnists have cared.
The pertinent question to ask would be: How did ASM get to this point? In many ways, ASM's irrelevancy mimics Congress: Nobody in the public knows what the hell is being talked about and what happens behind closed doors. Nobody in the public has any connection to those being elected, and nobody in the public has the time or inclination to stay on top of things. The one ASM conversation I have been a part of with other members acknowledged this as the number-one problem. ASM has to become a part of the culture of the student body, be present and do good things.
So, as of today, I guess I am an ASM School of Education representative. I have no idea who the Responsibility Slate or FACES are or what they even mean. I am pretty sure this should all be taken seriously. I'd like to say our student government is accessible and efficient and, most importantly, is fun for those in it and the students it represents.
Joseph Koss is a junior majoring in secondary education in social studies. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com
