By Matthew Clyburn
Student Government Association Senator Ryan Baldassario submitted a motion last Wednesday to alter the way student constituencies are represented in the voting body.
If the motion is passed, CCSU residents and commuters would each lose two representatives in the SGA Senate and four ‘at-large’ senators would be added in their place.
At-large senators are elected from the student body as a whole and represent both commuters and residents.
The SGA currently comprises eight resident representatives, 16 commuter representatives and six at-large senators; the new totals would be six, 14 and ten, respectively. The senate also reserves four representative seats for the freshman class to elect each fall, a number that would not change under this proposal.
“I know that a large percentage of our student body is commuter-based, and I know that there aren’t as many resident students, so our asses always get handed to us, that’s how it is around campus,” Baldassario said. “It equally reduces the amount of resident and commuter [positions], but by increasing the at-large it still allows both groups to put forth candidates.”
SGA President Eric Bergenn explained the idea during his president’s report at the beginning of last Wednesday’s meeting.
“We came together and we thought it might be a good idea to look into possibly promoting more at-large positions in our senate in order to drive more competition during elections,” Bergenn said. “When we spoke about it we weren’t sure what to do with the ratio – we know those numbers are put there for a reason – we certainly want to make sure that both groups of students are represented fairly.”
Bergenn and Baldassario both cited the SGA election in spring 2011 as motivation behind the idea. In that election, a relatively large number of candidates ran for resident seats and relatively few ran for commuter seats.
“In years past, we’ve had weaker competitions between commuter spots and more harshly contested competitions with resident spots,” Baldassario said. “Creating more at-large [seats] could even out the elections and even maybe create more competition in the entire election.”
“In a case like this year for example, where we had a really tough election for the resident seats at the end of last year, I know there were at least a few that ran that weren’t able to be on our senate,” Bergenn said.
The results of that election left eight open commuter seats on the senate for the current academic year.
“Now that we have eight open spots it seems unfortunate that we can’t have a full representative body when there are other people out there that want to do it,” Bergenn said.
Bergenn added that the motion would be a constitutional change, meaning it could be brought to referendum before the entire student body in the upcoming October election if passed by the senate. In the meantime, constitutional changes must remain tabled for at least two weeks before being voted upon.
The motion was seconded by Vice President Liz Braun and several senators joined in the debate that followed.
Senator Ryan Sheehan expressed concern that the current ratio of two commuter representatives for every one resident representative would be altered if the motion passed, thereby slightly decreasing the proportion of commuter representation.
“I think if we’re going to lower them, I say take away four resident spots and put on 12 at-large spots so we keep that [current] ratio,” Sheehan said.
Treasurer Nick Alaimo agreed with Sheehan, noting that removing a higher number of resident positions could preserve the current two-to-one ratio.
One senator pointed out that plans for a new residence hall, scheduled to open in a few years, may require another change in the constitution as more resident students would be added.
Jamie Canny, former interim president of the SGA, suggested that rules be suspended so that students could approve the referendum and elect candidates to the newly-created at-large positions at the same time. Bergenn speculated that the rules of order would not allow such a process to take place.
Braun and Sheehan tentatively supported an idea proposed during discussion that would change the system by assigning senate seats to represent certain schools within the university or class years.
In the end, Baldassario believes the motion should be passed from the SGA Senate to a referendum so that students can decide for themselves.
“All students will have the opportunity to vote against this motion in the referendum,” Baldassario said. “If commuters feel it’s not fair, and they actually show up to vote, then it will show that they plan to be involved and they’ll keep their spots.”
Baldassario continued, “If they don’t show up and vote, then residents and people who would vote for at-large anyways will benefit. If you feel it may increase competition of election and benefit the Senate, I say vote for it. If students don’t want it, they can vote it down.”
The motion will amend three parts of Article II, Section V of the SGA constitution. Bergenn said that if the motion passes, it would take effect in time for spring elections in 2012.
