OUR VIEW: ASUSU: trustees or representatives?
About this time every year, ASUSU seems to come to a sudden realization that its term is almost up and wonder what legacy it will leave behind. This prompts bee-in-the-bonnet activity that leads ASUSU to attempt to pass bills and resolutions that are probably better left alone.
For example, last year the big ASUSU push was to expand the TSC computer lab even though it didn’t need to be expanded, considering many computer labs across campus remained under-utilized.
This year ASUSU carries on the tradition of leaving a lasting impression on the university by passing the resolution to support the Board of Regents in maandating health insurance. At the time the resolution was proposed, the plan was to gather more student input before making a decision.
Nearly two months later, ASUSU passed the mandatory health insurance resolution in support of the possibility of the Board of Regents’ decision. ASUSU had plenty of time to hear students’ views before voting, and the prevailing view was loud and clear: Students do not support mandatory health insurance when the costs are so high.
Few students on campus would disagree that health insurance is a good idea. However, when the pocketbook comes into the picture, suddenly the issue becomes much more complicated. The students of USU expected their voice to be heard by ASUSU – their elected representatives – and for ASUSU to vote according to the student voice. In this aspect, ASUSU dropped the ball. It voted more along the lines of what the health insurance promoters wanted than what the majority of the student body wanted.
Now before anyone gets all up in arms about this, take a moment to reflect on what the resolution actually meant. It is not a bill. It does not take immediate effect, nor does it necessarily mean that health insurance will be mandatory. The resolution was designed to protect the students of USU in the event statewide mandatory health insurance is established. It states what students at USU want to see happen.
The resolution turned out to be a good thing for students – even those opposed to mandatory health insurance. However, this resolution has not been presented in this light, which has resulted in frustration and confusion. We at The Statesman take our fair share of the blame for not digging in deeper to discover what this resolution was all about. It is our responsibility to find and report the news accurately, and in this aspect we dropped the ball.
However, ASUSU also needs to take some of the blame on this resolution. It is ASUSU’s responsibility to be frank and open with the student body about the legislation that is being discussed. ASUSU should have presented this information more openly and stated in clear terms what the resolution actually meant. This would have alleviated much of the frustration.
The bottom line is a lot of errors were made on a resolution that has major impacts. This should not have happened and could have been prevented if ASUSU and The Statesman worked together to bring the information to students. This would have allowed ASUSU to get a better picture of what the students wanted so it could vote with a knowledge that the students’ voice was truly being represented.
As it stands, the voice of the students who will be affected adversely by a mandatory health insurance bill was by and large ignored. ASUSU was elected by the students to represent the students, and this resolution was one area where it could have and should have done a better job.