Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: News

Students for Change party logo

This last presidential election saw voters wanting change.

This upcoming Student Government election is no different.

The newly formed party, Students for Change, will compete against United Party of Students during the April 6 and 7 elections and challenge the organization's efficiency.

Students for Change has 14 members, with 10 members vying for Student Senate.

Four are running for executive offices. They are Ron Jordan for student body president, Scott Lambert for student vice president for academic affairs, Brad Saribekian for student vice president for business affairs and Paul Reid for student vice president for student affairs.

Reid, who missed the first six weeks this semester because of a leave of absence, said he decided to return to the senate to advance the Student Senate's effectiveness.

Initially, Reid wanted to run for student body president, but he changed his mind before the March 11 deadline. He then helped found Students for Change.

"I decided instead of going independent, I would team up with likeminded members with a party," Reid said. "If I don't like how it is, I have to change the senate."

Jordan said Students for Change wants the Student Senate members and executives to serve the students first instead of always being concerned with internal affairs.

"We are students advocating for change, especially in the culture of the senate," Jordan said. "We are trying to outline change in the way we deal with students, the way student issues are taken on.

"The culture in the senate needs to change. The attitudes of some senators need to change and the focus of senators and executives."

Jordan said the Student Senate meetings have to alter the current structure.

"The meetings are run efficiently, but I don't think we focus enough on student issues," Jordan said. "We focus on the Student Constitution and the bylaws and not on student projects and student concerns as directly as we should be."

Another goal of Students for Change is to fix the internal and external communication of the Student Senate.

Reid said most of the external problems with the Student Senate involve poor member interaction.

He argues this breakdown in communication internally affects how the group conveys its ideas to the student body.

"You need communication within an organization because without it, you can't have communication outside it," Reid said.

Jordan said he feels the presentation of the Student Senate needs to be improved in order for a positive image with Eastern's student body to be fostered.

He referred to the meeting attire resolution he proposed that failed to pass the Student Senate in a 7-13 vote during its Jan. 28 meeting.

"That was not just for attire," Jordan said. "That was for handling ourselves in a professional manner. If all the people are working on a professional level, it will reflect with what we get done."

The professionalism refers to texting, talking and "snarkiness" that occur during meetings, he said.

Connecting with students is vital for Reid, who wants to evoke effective progress for the campus.

He said this means for his party to consider pertinent issues students care about.

"For Student Government to bicker two hours about the dress code seems irrelevant to me," Reid said.

Bob BaHe argues this breakdown in communication internally affects how the group conveys its ideas to the student body.

"You need communication within an organization because without it, you can't have communication outside it," Reid said.

Jordan said he feels the presentation of the Student Senate needs to be improved in order for a positive image with Eastern's student body to be fostered.

He referred to the meeting attire resolution he proposed that failed to pass the Student Senate in a 7-13 vote during its Jan. 28 meeting.

"That was not just for attire," Jordan said. "That was for handling ourselves in a professional manner. If all the people are working on a professional level, it will reflect with what we get done."

The professionalism refers to texting, talking and "snarkiness" that occur during meetings, he said.

Connecting with students is vital for Reid, who wants to evoke effective progress for the campus.

He said this means for his party to consider pertinent issues students care about.

"For Student Government to bicker two hours about the dress code seems irrelevant to me," Reid said.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.

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