There is a reason the General Assembly, the student legislative body at AU, is an organization that few students know of and or care about. Over the past few years, it has grown into an inside "clique" of students who are more concerned about padding their resume and making political moves than taking on the responsibility of making a better AU.
But now, there is a glimmer of hope. The recent "rebellion," where senior members resigned or were ousted and replaced by younger members, is a chance to change its reputation. Rebellions, however, can bring na?ve confidence to new leaders too busy creating a new institution to learn from the mistakes of those who went before them.
The "new" GA must be careful not to ignore the mistakes of the past or they will inevitably make the same ones. And what does the politics of the GA -ÿthe backstabbing, the political scheming, the squabbling, the insults, the drama - accomplish anyway?
When members put their political party aside and work on campus issues together, like they did in establishing a permanent place in the SC for the Women's Initiative late Friday night, it is a small step in the right direction.
But the GA has a long way to go, as the true merit of the organization will be measured in what it accomplishes rather than the ideas it brings to the table. Members should never forget that they are elected by students to serve students. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind:
Talk to students and ask them, what they are concerned about. What are they having trouble with?
Be transparent and open with decisions to the student body. Town hall meetings, public forums, open discussions and updated Web sites will increase accountability and respectability.
Move toward a smaller organization where actual competition determines election results. Do we really need 40 spots if only half are full?
Reach out to communities often ignored, such as fraternities and sororities, international students, Washington Semester students and students living in Park Bethesda.
