USG suggests student textbook exchange program

The director of the University's Core Curriculum said Tuesday that the Undergraduate Student Government was on the verge of a meltdown, but could possibly be saved if USG implemented an effective student-to-student textbook exchange.

The Faculty Senate passed its own recommendations for a textbook policy Tuesday, but James Allen said the next step toward reform would be USG taking the matter into its own hands.

The book exchange, which is the recommendation of the senate's Textbook Cost Committee, could be funded through student fees and run by the student government. Allen said having a textbook exchange would benefit the students directly.

"This is really in the student's interests," Allen said. "Here is an opportunity for USG to reduce those costs substantially." He said he was worried about the turmoil that was taking place in the University's student government. Allen asked Chancellor Walter Wendler if there was any way the faculty could help the student senate regain some control on its existence.

"What can we provide so that they can function in the interest of the students?" Allen asked.

Wendler said the administration has been offering Brown support and called his idea for reform a bold move. USG has been attempting to change its image across campus. Nate Brown, vice president of USG, said the perception that student senators are apathetic, never show up to meetings and ignore formal legislative processes has left a bad mark on the organization.

Wendler said it was a shame that there was a lack of interest in the organization.

USG President Tequia Hicks said implementing a textbook exchange would not solve the problems USG faces. Brown said if the problems could have been solved incrementally then he would have never proposed the overhaul. Brown, who has said he will resign from office on Wednesday, has been on a campaign to reform the entire system.

"I hate that this has to be so bold and drastic," Brown said. "But, this is what USG has come to over time." For the eight months Brown has been in power, the organization has never had a full senate and currently operates with 33 of its 58 seats full.

Over the past two weeks, Brown has expressed frustrations with the senate's inability to pass resolutions and address internal amendments. Senators have countered the executive branch has not coached the inexperienced senate enough. Hicks said the organization is by no means on a verge of a break down. Hicks said she has picked a replacement for Brown, but would not comment further. She said the recent weeks of bickering between senators and executive branch members have made senators more aware of their responsibilities.

"There are people who are looking in the mirror - myself included," Hicks said. "We know we have to step our game up."

Allen said the crisis must be handled before it is too late. He said senators should attend pre-semester seminars to learn how to be leaders, to think collectively and to serve their communities.

Brown said the Association for Undergraduate Students, the name for his proposed student government, is still in the process of ratifying its constitution. Brown will need 5,000 student signatures for his proposal to be on the ballot for the April elections, and senators have already begun petitioning the student body for signatures. Once the plan is voted on and it passes, the chancellor will decide if a new government will take shape.

Cody Chullen, one of the senators that asked Brown for his resignation, said USG has been the voice of the students over the past year.

"USG is strong, " Chullen said. "It has made an impact on the administration and done a good job of it."