In Ben Tietz's first meeting as Student Government Association president, a disagreement surfaced between Tietz's goals and those of Sen. Andrew Greider.
Tietz's platform included extending Bracken Library's computer lab hours past the midnight closing time. Greider said he had discussed the issue with Dean of University Libraries Arthur Hafner, who he said convinced him that it could not be done. Tietz has refused to drop the issue, saying that SGA will continue to look at different methods to extend lab hours.
Differences in ideology between executive members and senators are common. This issue is one of many that Tietz said he would tackle if elected. Tietz is standing his ground and making the first step to achieving expectations for his term: exhausting all options.
Pursuing an issue to save face is one thing. Making sure there is nothing else that can be done to achieve a goal is another. Students need places to study with computers. Though the Robert Bell Building has a 24-hour computer lab, Greider suggested replacing some of the computers in this location with study tables.
This shows one of the benefits of this disagreement: both parties are willing to keep working to help the students. That is SGA's role.
The executive board and the senators might see this disagreement as a set back, but instead should look at it as a difference in method. They both have made it clear they are working to help the students, they just have different ideas on what helping the students means.
Though this might be the first bump in the road for Tietz's term, reality dictates that it will not be the last. By staying the course and sticking by the goals he campaigned on, Tietz is showing leadership. The senators' decision to drop the issue or find new solutions shows the students that they are finding new ways to achieve their goals.
With both sides working to better the students, even if it is in different ways, there is no way the students can lose. In an ideal situation, something will be changed to better the lives of students.
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