It has become apparent that the 2009-10 Student Senate made its first major error in judgment before the end of spring term. When senators decided it didn’t matter whether those staying to serve on Summer Senate received any compensation for their work, it was another step toward unaccountability and sloth in the ASUO.
Now even Summer Senate Chairman Nick Gower, who just weeks ago thought it fiscally prudent to have students work for free, sees the purpose of student stipends. Gower has come to realize this, he said, because he is holding ASUO office hours on his lunch break from work and is driving to campus from downtown Eugene.
He was also persuaded by the lack of attendance at what would have been the third meeting of Summer Senate on Wednesday, if enough senators had shown up for a meeting to take place.
Most of the student government positions written about in the Emerald receive stipends. Student program leaders, senators, Constitution Court justices and ASUO Executive staff all receive stipends that are supposedly reimbursements for expenses incurred on the job. No consideration is supposed to be given to hours worked; it’s a lump sum to pay for gas and food.
Not all stipends are equal, however. Finance committees and the full Senate can set stipends, and senators bring home $150 per month while exec staff and program stipends have been at $125 for three years now.
The inequities in the system are glaring. An academic senator who has to attend Senate meetings and a couple of office hours each week does not do nearly as much work, and frankly isn’t nearly as important, as the finance coordinator (a currently vacant position) who has to master the minutiae of a nearly $12-million budget.
But that’s a problem for another day, because stipends are not wages. What Gower and the liberal senators who did not know any better at their first meeting are realizing is the inherent value in holding individuals accountable by compensating them, and how that accountability translates into more effective and legitimate government.
Senate is obligated to meet once per calendar month. Gower is trying to get them to meet every two weeks. He tried Wednesday, along with Sens. Jeremy Blanchard, Zachary Stark-MacMillan and Ryan Lassi. That’s not enough senators to hold a vote. So they sat there and talked about items on the agenda without using parliamentary procedure or voting. Gower couldn’t let them make decisions about anything (he can’t be too careful about following the rules: live by the grievance; die by the grievance) — even when Dean of Students Paul Shang just wanted Gower to say he wanted Shang’s help in booking a different room for Senate next year.
Sen. Demic Tipitino and others had given notice they would not be able to attend. Sen. Nick Schultz did not give any indication he would not attend and because of his absence, there was no quorum.
And what can be done about the unexplained absences that prevented business from getting done? Not much. Summer senators are volunteers.
When students are willing to subject themselves to public ridicule, immense personal drama, peer pressure, potential nicotine addiction and all the other collateral inflictions of campus politics just because they might make this place a little better, they deserve something in return. Those who receive financial aid never even see their pittance. Last year’s Senate decided to let their successors decide whether to take stipends during summer. This seemed prudent at the time, given that the previous Summer Senate did not take any stipends after a couple of years of extreme polarization on all budget issues.
But allowing the uninitiated to be convinced by a small — and dwindling — anti-stipend minority only hurts the ASUO’s ability to hold people accountable and adds a hint of dignity to the process. Summer senators are doing a commendable job of long-term planning during a time when they can have big ideas and not just approve requests for cash. A watchful second branch is also helpful in reminding the executive to fulfill her duties from time to time.
Maybe next spring this Senate can make the decision to give the next stipends during summer. Or these senators can at least inform their successors of the symbolic value of giving students back less than they actually deserve.
opinion @dailyemerald.com