By Brad Korten
It's already second semester, and as I approach my graduation I start to think in more depth about my time here at AU. What I am thinking about now is not what I did while I was here, but what I will leave behind. As much as the University has left an impression on me, I get to leave an impression on it.
I plan to do this by supporting the referendum being proposed for the new AU Student Association (AUSA).
As a student, I believe that everyone here has a voice to be heard. Everyone has concerns that they feel need to be dealt with. The problem is they don't think their voice is being heard by anyone else.
I support the AUSA because it helps channels these voices in a more efficient and student-friendly style to the University. In reformatting the Student Government from how it stands now to the AUSA, the new government will become more streamlined and will become less bureaucratic.
Even though we are the most politically active campus in the country, we don't have to mirror the federal government exactly. Instead of having the current three branches, it will be streamlined to a single body of students who are elected on the sole purpose of advocacy for the all AU students.
The AUSA will look less intimidating and confusing than the current SG structure and will encourage all students to take part. And even with there being a body of elected officials, your voice will be heard better through the AUSA because they are not "senators" anymore.
The AUSA helps throw out most of the politics, so the new body of students will be able to help get your voice heard to the University and the administration. I like to think the AUSA will be more like an NGO; it will be an organization focusing on goals to make students lives better here at AU. They will be able to advocate more efficiently on the big issues like student tuition, endowment and student rights.
I have been here for four years now, and I know that the groups of students who have worked hard on this proposal are trying to leave behind a new system to help the school in the future. The students have worked for years on this new system that lets our voices be heard more clearly to the administration. This referendum will make it so all students can advocate to the University so that we can all leave our marks. That is why one thing I’d like to see before I go is this referendum’s passage, so that all of AU can be heard for years to come.
Brad Korten is a senior in the School of Public Affairs.
