On Feb. 4, 2012 the Student Government Council – Modesto A. Maidique Campus Supreme Court released its decision on the Ex Parte Velez SC 001 case.
In it, it sided with our argument as the petitioner that the Activity & Service Fee approval process was contrary to Florida Statutes, and therefore struck the unlawful provisions in question from the SGA Constitution.
What this landmark decision implies is that for the first time, the Senates from each of our campuses are going to be able to exert their legislative power to allocate and approve the budget.
This means that the process by which $12 million in Activity & Service Fee funds are allocated is going to be more open and accessible to students.
Now, we can have our directly elected student representatives make the decision as to where the money we pay is going to go.
Instead of the same officials drafting a budget, and then approving it themselves, we can have a more respectable, logical and democratic procedure.
The funds in question determine how much money student organizations receive, how much the Homecoming Council can spend for the Homecoming Concert, and how many allocations can be given to graduate students for their research and conferences.
Because of this reason, it is essential for students to engage and pay attention. We can all do our part to make sure these funds are spent more efficiently, addressing the priorities that we as a student body have.
We may want more events at the Engineering Center, more study areas around campus, or better services at the Biscayne Bay Campus; getting involved is the way to make sure that these become a reality.
It is up to us to ensure that SGA represents us, our interests and needs, by running for office, voting and holding our officials accountable.
In order to make that a reality, the Coalition of Students for Reform is here to serve as the mechanism for students to engage with and lobby their student government, making sure all government officials represent the collective interests of our 44,000 strong student body.
This case, addressing the budget approval process is one way of reaching that goal.
The decision by the Supreme Court presents SGA, and particularly the two Senates with an opportunity.
Let’s take advantage of that new potential, and adopt a process by which there is direct student input about the budget proposals. Both Senates should have their Operational Review Committees hold public hearings where students can directly express their thoughts on the draft budget for the following year, before it is considered by each Senate. CSR will be proposing a new approval course, that incorporates this idea, to be posted at our website at go.fiu.edu/csr. This should be the first step towards a truly transparent and open government.
The budget hearings and SGA Elections are right around the corner, so the timing is ideal for those who want to step up and shape our reality. If you want to change our student government, lead; if you want to change our university, lead. It’s time to take a stand, to take action.
-William-Jose Velez, President of FIU Coalition of Students for Reform
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