,h 11,
1975
Page Three
SAL^MITC
SGA Nominees Speak of Improvements, and Clarify Positions for Election
S.G.A. VICE-PRESIDENT
I involve more Salem stu-
. i he organization of which
unmng for
every Salem student
"hvsrd However, I do teei
I rould involve students in
' rote by o
'OUW
more
little
and
There is a definite
distribution of power
more
more power in the in
clubs and organizations,
see a need in trying to
a e a little “new blood”
r the government heirarchy
■" searching out the many un-
liced opinions that are lurking
[ in our virgin woods.
In reference to the question of
Senate vs. SGA, after much
and talk, I have decided
I am in favor of a modifica-
of the present SGA system.
,[ that what is needed here
It Salem is a stronger decentra-
government. More power
be granted to Legislative
io”a"rcl and the individual clubs,
'his plan would give more
to our election procedure
do we elect student of-
icers and club presidents if not
bear certain responsibilities?
n theory, each Salem student is
member of every club; how-
ver, 1 feel that a certain amount
power should be granted to
hose who are interested enough
be active club participants,
hose people should be given the
to approve or disapprove
heir own constitutions. Their
idions could then be reviewed by
,eg Board without having to be
lut up before the student body
is, more often than not, un-
oncerned about a constitutional
hange. With a granting of more
«wer in individual organizations
a f e w minor changes, we
i get rid of the “nit-picky”
usiness and thereby make SGA
neetings more of an opportunity
question major issues. I feel
hat the much talked of “apathy”
a result of the time element
1 sheer boredom at SGA meet-
;s. As the last SGA meeting
raved, Salem students aren’t
t apathetic when an issue that
pertinent to their rights* is
liscussed. This is but my opin-
on the issue. I feel that every
myself included, has to
ish herself if her vote in SGA is
wanted and earned right by
Kr membership in Salem College
an unwanted and burdensome
Kponsibility. Only after we have
inswered that should we go
“decide on a Senate or SGA.
on
LUCY ROSE
the case of our SGA, effi-
'“ncy and involvement must run
f in hand. The key to making
“tfice of President (and SGA
a whole) more efficient is to
more people involved in all
I^P^t^ts of our life here. Hon-
\ speaking though, involve-
a difficult concept to deal
Dip ■ ^ enough to get peo-
are r when big issues
®'ng considered, but apathy
'^hen fall into
and no ^^ming smoothly
'’“'■tance ^r?V®^''.^’^-shaking
are being battered
about. It becomes increasingly
important that students be made
aware of what is going on in the
college adrninistration as well
as what is happening in student
affairs. We need more discussion
and student feedback on all issues
and all student representatives to
clubs and committees must be
made a more important part of
our community. Leg. board needs
to become more active and take a
bigger leadership role in our SGA.
These things are essential to im
proving our SGA system.
If I attempted to count the
number of times I have changed
my mind as to which form of gov
ernment would be the most bene
ficial in meeting the total needs
of our campus, the fingers on
my hands would not be sufficient.
It is difficult to take a stand
when I know that the student
body will most probably already
have voted by the time this is
printed. I will do so, though, and
also voice my support and con
cern for both systems.
I now feel that the changeover
to a Senate would be a radical
change. It would be unreasonable
to think that such a change would
merely deprive students of their
right to vote. Granted, it would
most probably serve as a much
more efficient means of passing
legislation and it could do away
with required SGA attendance.
But I firmly believe that we’ve
got now a too precious system to
give it up. Isn’t it a sense of
community that embraces that
which means the most to us at
Salem? Think about it. Friend
ships, clubs, student-faculty re
lationships, community service,
having a sense of belonging; that
is community. A senate system
certainly couldn’t help us in fos
tering a sense of community, it
could only possibly lessen it. Why
not consider giving Leg. board
more power with club constitution
changes, etc. and posting agendas
and all changes to be discussed
one week ahead of the SGA meet
ing; thereby saving time for more
interesting discussions and speak
ers. I think it is the responsibility
of your elected leaders to make
the meetings interesting, worth
while, and beneficial to the whole
student body. It is the responsi
bility of each student also, though,
to express her needs, desires and
opinions. It is only in this way
that the SGA can be an effective
working body. The success of our
system rests on the spirit and
concern each individual student
brings to it . . . and this is where
Kathy’s enthusiasm comes in. As
she said so aptly, so many times,
now is the time to become en
thusiastic about life, about
friends, about our community.
Now is the time to become in
volved. Because before you know
it, it’s too late.
Ultimately, the decision will rest
with the student body, as it with
out a doubt should. That is what
makes Salem the unique place
that it is. It is this uniqueness that
insists that a leader not only be
capable of making able decisions
but also be able to execute well
those decisions made by the stu
dent body as a whole. Leaders
need freedom, but they also must
have a deeply seated sense of re
sponsibility to those they repre
sent.
ELIZABETH MORTON
I realize that this position is
one that requires a great deal of
time and work in coordinating
various club activities, delegating
responsibility, serving on the Ex
ecutive Board and the Legislative
Board, chairing Student Service
Council, and attending many
meetings. Carrying out all of
these responsibilities efficiently
and in an organized manner is
essential to successfully accom
plish a job. I also feel that there
is one particular aspect of this
job that I have left out—and that
is that it requires someone who
is willing to put her heart into it,
doing the best that she can for
Salem College. I am willing to do
this.
In trying to make this position
more efficient, I would strive to
establish an effective communica
tion system, attempt to create
more interest in club activities,
try to evaluate the effectiveness
of the clubs on campus, and
above all, try to create an organ
ization that works together har
moniously.
As for my views concerning our
present SGA system, I feel that a
change to the Senate without tak
ing a closer look at possible im
provements in our present system
would be a drastic move for sev
eral reasons. In our present SGA
system, we have an important
privilege that we too often take
for granted — and that is the
right to vote. I also feel that
unity among the student body is
an important element of SGA. I
honestly believe that our present
system can work. If we cut out
unnecessary announcements dur
ing SGA meetings we will help
ease the problem. We are so con
cerned with looking at the pos
sible advantages of a Senate sys
tem and how it operates at Da
vidson that we fail to think of
looking at a school which has an
effective SGA, to see why their
government works.
I feel that the advantages of our
present system outweigh those
that are foreseen in the Senate
government. And there are also
those unforeseen problems that
would arise from the possible
establishment of a Senate. Why
don’t we first try to improve what
I feel is basically a good system?
weekly announcement sheet that
98 per cent of the student body
claims it reads), and occasional
speakers—drawn from the vari
ous lecture circuits as well as
from our own faculty, and discus
sion of only pressing issues —
those which need to be voted on.
Another thing that would help
matters would be to start on
time. Our system is unique. Oth
er colleges are too large to recog
nize the individual student’s opin
ion or vote on school oriented
matters. The discussions held in
the designated assembly periods
should arouse enough interest in
the student body so that the indi
vidual wants to attend rather
than feel that she is “forced” to
attend. Also it must be noted that
other colleges which have adopted
the Senate format are at least
twice our size.
The office of vice-president in
volves the chairmanship of Inter
club and SSC. Interclub functions
quite well when all the committee
and club chairmen show up for
meetings; however, it lacks with
out their participation. Trying to
coordinate student activities and
hopefully stimulate interest is a
job the chairman alone cannot
possibly do.
SSC has had a big problem in
coordinating i t s activities also.
The various heads involved in
teacher evaluations, the ticket
clearing house, and the book ex
change have been working inde
pendently with the chairman, so
each head really doesn’t know
the details of what the other is do
ing. This hinders organization, as
well as service to the students.
The book exchange is another
problem; it requires reorganiza
tion. What type of reorganization
is a big question. Suggestions
have been made to pay students
to work in the book exchange or
to affiliate the book exchange
with the Salem Bookstore. Only
careful study will bring an an
swer.
would find out what other im
provements have been attempted,
so as not to make the same mis
takes twice. Professors could be
asked to make a list of texts be
ing used in their courses in the
fall term. This list would then be
passed on to the students, so they
will know which books they can
sell. Then all other books can be
cleared out of the book exchange.
The SSC has run into several
problems this year selling concert
tickets ( as well as finding out
what concerts, plays, etc., are in
the area). I have been helping
SSC with that particular function,
and there is no problem in SSC
that couldn’t be solved, given a
little time and effort.
Working on the Salemite this
year has given me a certain
amount of organization. I feel the
Vice President needs organization
in order to put out a handbook,
be chairman of Interclub, as well
as chairman of SSC. I have ob
served idiosyncrasies of Salem
College (some stated above). Giv
en the opportunity, I will work
positively and constructively for
the student body.
MARION PATRICK
to the Salemite’s
In response
Though I feel strong y that we concerning the new idea
need not to dissolve, but 1° g^^ate versus that of the
the sense of community at Sale required assemblies, I
College, if the majority of stu- presei ^ _ 4 ^
dents feel that a change is toe
best way, I will respond to that
need with all of the energy
have. What matters to me is to
make Salem a better place for all
of those who go here.
I
must say that I favor the present
system with improvements in the
agenda, including better publicity
of matters to be discussed before
hand, no general announcements
(that can be taken care of in the
KATHERINE SKINNER
The Vice President of SGA will
have a vital role in either im
proving the present system or
constructing the Senate. I will do
my best in either situation, al
though I prefer improving the
present system. Salem College is
not large enough to warrant rep
resentatives. Davidson is one of
the schools cited as a model. Da
vidson also has three times the
enrollment (1,500 students). A stu
dent is giving up more than she
will gain by the Senate. In order
to be represented, a student gives
up her right to exercise her vote.
The student body and the Senate
would have to be in close com
munication for the students to
know the pending issues. Students
now do not know about various
speakers and activities on cam
pus. I feel the Senate would feed
student apathy rather than cure
it. Granted, the SGA meetings
can stand a lot of improvement.
Piedmont Lecturers could be
scheduled to speak then. Dr.
Chandler could address the stu
dent body about rising costs (e.g.,
tuition). Above all, petty an
nouncements should be banned.
SGA can work, given the chance.
The Book Exchange lends it
self to improvement. First, I
MARILYN TURNER
By the time a girl reaches her
senior year at Salem she is pretty
much marked as being a Salem
student. It may not be readily ap
parent to the girl or her friends,
but ask any Salem alumna and
she will tell you that Salem girls
acquire a certain quality which
they carry with them throughout
their lives. In my opinion, it is
not quite fair that an institution
should have such a marked in
fluence on my life without my
having the opportunity to return
the favor. Therefore, in order to
leave a little of my influence on
Salem College, I am running for
Vice President.
What I have to offer to the
school is myself and my creativ
ity. I have an uncanny ability to
come up with ideas that hopefully
Salem could put to use for the im
provement of the school. As for
specifics concerning the position
of vice-president, I really need to
stick my thumb in the pie before
I can see if more salt needs add
ing. However, I can foresee pos
sible changes in the operation of
the book exchange to make it a
more convenient and operable
organization. Also, I would love
to see the school cooperate to
sponsor more campus-wide events
involving all the clubs and the
entire student body. Other than
that, I would just like to have
the opportunity to contribute my
ideas to Executive Board, and to
serve the student body.
Upon weighing the question of
changing our present student body
government to the Senate system,
I feel that the Senate system
would only rob Salem of one de
lightful quality which she possess
es, namely, her sense of com
munity. Granted that the Senate
system sounds inviting, with the
option of allowing students to be
come voting members on a volun
tary basis. But I feel that the
Senate system would eventually
only limit the number of students
involved in the student govern
ment. The number of students de
siring to attend the meetings on
a volunteer basis would gradually