Wednesday's Forum

Tomorrow there will be a forum, and among the issues being discussed will be the question of whether or not the SGA ought to allocate money from the SAF to pay for cable on campus. So maybe we should review how we got here: Last semester, the SGA had to decide whether or not to extend our comcast contract, which would mean raising the SAF. They had a deadline to meet on this decision, since there was a budget to be made, and if the SAF was going to be raised, Andrew Pedro had to let the Powers That Be know. This is where the shenanigans began. Faced with this looming deadline, and somehow unsure of what the students would obviously want, the SGA decided to split the issue into two inherently inseparable parts: whether or not to get cable, and whether or not to raise the SAF. I say these are inseparable because the argument for not having cable is based on the notion that it is a waste of money. But that argument is hurt a great deal if it turns out that the students have paid for cable already, whether they receive it or not. Read more >>

A Thoughtful Post?

A few moments ago I helped pass an unfriendly amendment to fellow Senator Nathan Kirschbaum’s resolution calling for Senators to post two blog posts per semester or be censured. I suggested that rather than requiring posts they should be “encouraged.” I did this for several reasons, first, yes a part of me resented that I was forced to “blog.” A blog is not a report, it’s meant to be an informal expression, how does one regulate informal expressions? However, more than that, I was concerned that many of my fellow senators, as Senator Blum put it, were too “lazy” to actually complete the task adequately. “Lazy” is the word that had been used in session, being diplomatic I might have used “busy” or another adjective but the implication is the same. I did not, however, propose the amendment out of a sense of idealism, I do not believe that most senators, without being required, will post much of anything. Long story short, after much of the SGA’s characteristic bickering, the amendment to the resolution was passed and senators were simply “encouraged” to post. That basically translates into you, the reader, probably seeing far fewer posts than if the resolution had passed un-amended. I’m somewhat disappointed my amendment passed, not because I was wrong – if it had passed this board would fill up with “required” posts, most of relatively little substance. Rather, I’m disappointed my amendment passed because I wish I had been wrong. I wish people would have jumped up and said “two posts, simple!” – and, while some did, the majority that didn’t jump up convinced me I was right not to force them to post.

Young Voters in 2008

There are quite a few very simple things in life that make me very happy. These include, but are not limited to the following: no line at airport security (this never happens); a new spelling of my name (usually produced by a creative Starbucks employee – I’ve given up hope that the correct spelling will ever surface); sunshine (I’m from California, you had to see that one coming); warm sheets out of the dryer (especially really soft ones); a really good kiss (NOT in the rain – I prefer to be dry, thanks. Snow, however, is acceptable if you’re taking notes); and political primaries with some really solid candidates. There are very few things in life that make me unhappy and they are: Fox News; losing my Trinity ID card; soupy macaroni at Mather (really guys, come ON); and when people accuse my generation of apathy.

By these standards, today’s been a pretty solid day. And the next few months promise to bring more of my favorite things (after all, the east coast has to get sunny again SOMETIME, right?). Read more >>