AS starts new chapter

By Editorial

Now that James LaCamp and Jasper Seldin have been chosen as Associated Students president and vice president, AS opens a new chapter for reaching out to students.

A handful of other officers were also elected into positions Wednesday night.

The candidates this year said that their interest was to increase AS visibility. We understand that it is hard to get students to attend senate meetings and to do the simplest things, like voting.

This page thinks that next year is a time to draw a new slate to reach out to students. And one way to do this is to address substantive issues that affect the student body.

First is the alcohol policy, which LaCamp and Seldin stated as part of their platform. This is an important issue that should have student input. Right now it seems as though the administration controls the logistics of the alcohol policy.

Another issue that students have expressed concern over for years is the university's stance to not recognize greeks on campus. It's not as if greeks are some dirty little secret on this campus; they are in large numbers and by not recognizing them, the university is ignoring a sizable portion of the student body.

Other issues of concern involve the rising tuition rates, which have increased by an average of seven percent over the last 10 years. There have been numerous panel discussions throughout the year, with very few students ever questioning the ethics of the university implementing higher tuition rates.

Despite the fact that AS doesn't have the power to change everything at the university, student government does have the influence, resources and the know-how to be an effective advocate for the student body.

AS is the representative of the undergraduate students and has the power to effect change. With that, hopefully more students will be receptive.