There are steps that need to be taken for UC Merced to reach to the ranks of other universities. The recent bill passed by the Associated Students of UC Merced to compensate elected student officials was one of those steps, regardless of how much previously inattentive students grumbled after the fact.
Just before Bill 35 -- legislation to compensate elected officials -- was set to be voted on by the student senate on Dec. 7, Facebook hell broke loose. Even though the bill was public and so were the meetings where it was discussed, it seems the only way students became aware of the introduction and subsequent approval of the bill was through a link posted on the social networking site for feedback from, at first, just one senator.
The combination of claims of corruption and misinformed allegations of how much and where the compensation funds would be coming from made for a mélange of anger, confusion and arguments that weren't germane to the procedures at hand. Though much of those feelings were aimed at the issue of compensation, grievances by students of just not being included in the decision were equally heated.
All that was seen by students were dollars going into the pockets of a student government that many had previously never bothered to pay attention to, even if just for accountability. Questions were answered by many elected student officials, all mostly posed on Facebook on a new page created for the purpose of vetoing the bill. But they seemed to be in vain as the same arguments trickled in.
For those who paid attention, the bill -- and every other bill that comes before the student senate -- is made public. The meetings are weekly, public, happen in the same place/time and allow anyone to address their student government. At a certain point students themselves need to take the initiative and pay attention to the matters that affect them and their money. If they had paid attention, they'd have noticed some crucial points: they won't be paying additional funds; elected officials can decline to take the compensation (many of which have decided to); and "payment" will be in forms of scholarships going to students' financial aid (which are only granted based on need).
A total of $300 would go to each student senator for each semester, and the legislation states that a $100 stipend would be given each month an executive officer (chief of staff, external vice president, etc.) during their term. Being a part of the student government requires time from students who are already under the usual time constraints that come from being in college.
Senate meetings alone have at one point lasted from 7:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. on a Wednesday night/Thursday morning. This is added to whatever time senators spend weekly advising clubs or organizations and writing bills on their behalf to get needed funds or the time student executives spend traveling across the state of California to attend regents meetings lobbying for no more fee increases, sometimes having to pay out of pocket for travels. Essentially, their work benefits the rest of the student body, not just themselves.
Paying officials creates a way to hold them accountable for the work they do or don't do. It could give a financially strapped student the opportunity to participate in student government as opposed to not being able to because of the obligation of having another job. And it could create the incentive for students to pay attention to the actions of their elected members and where their money is going.
Many other universities pay their student governments. UC Merced would have eventually taken that route anyway. Doing it now with a smaller government gives a better chance that the system of compensation can be run more smoothly and in the fairest way as the university grows.
Compensation was going to happen. In real-life politics there are taxpayers and politicians who handle where taxes go. It's no different at UCM. Students pay fees and the student government decides where they go.
The reasoning of many students to not having been informed about the legislation isn't the fault of the student government. There is transparency and all information is available to the public. Politics will not chase you for your opinion. It won't hear you if you don't speak.
The author is a senior in political science at the University of California at Merced.
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