This afternoon, University Senate will vote on passing a resolution for action that could ultimately add an electronic voting system to at least one lecture hall on campus.
Such a system, similar to ones used in state houses across the country, would be "used by the University Senate to record votes during their meetings," according to the resolution.
The proposed "new business" contains a flaw, however. By passing this resolution through to the Office of Technology, University Senate will demonstrate that it is perfectly capable of voting using its current system --thus making the new system quite pointless.
Aside from the obvious reasoning, the voting system would be a serious waste of university and student funds, not to mention University Senate effort.
In regards to the system itself, Senate is attempting to pass off the bill (literally and metaphorically) as a benefit to student learning. In doing so, the Senate is providing a fallback for its funding. Should the Office of Technology not have the funds to support this project, Senate will look to pass off the idea and the expenses to colleges on campus whose classroom(s) would "benefit" from the technology.
What true purpose or benefits this system will have can only be speculated on at this point, but as a reminder, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Of far greater issue, however, is that University Senate cannot think of anything better to throw its political weight behind.
Taking a look at the rest of their agenda, you'll see resolutions such as the "Academic Calendar/Elimination of Saturday Finals" that have been sitting since March 2003. Also present is a resolution on policies for consensual sexual relationships (August 2004) and the motion to add a multicultural class to Ball State University's core requirements (1998).
Taking that into account and predicting the argument that the Senate needs a more simplistic way of voting, allow us to point out that the last University Senate meeting was canceled because of a "lack of agenda items."
Not every item University Senate encounters can immediately be pursued or pushed on to the next level. That is no excuse, however, to not focus on the bigger issues that affect a wider number of students, staff and faculty. Right now, all Senate is doing is proving its lack of focus toward serious university matters.
If University Senate is serious about pushing a new electronic voting system for its meetings then it must be even more serious about voting on legislation beneficial to the entire campus population.
As of right now, that focus is something that remains to be seen.
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