Open secret: The 2011 student government election was a complete joke and an institutional embarrassment.
When Chris Loumeau was elected student body president, not much more than two percent of over 32,000 students seemed to care.
Team Innovate ran unopposed, and composed completely of incumbents, with the mission “to fight for the students!” This should have unsettled any student who cares about what happens with their fees, and given every active member of UVUSA cause for alarm.
UVUSA is in charge of $12 million a semester, and students’ indifference about so much of their own money should be deeply unsettling.
When he became pressed to respond to the strange “apathy” noted by students, professors, UVU Review and others on campus, Loumeau wrote a letter. He addressed the implications that, because members of UVUSA are on the elections committee, and that for the past few years only a team of incumbents ever wins student elections, “the election process may be flawed.”
Loumeau responded with his feelings that there were “extremely rigid rules” to the process and that such rules may be particularly demanding on teams comprised of students from UVUSA. He also suggested that to get involved in politics required beginning from the bottom up to ensure leadership properly prepared by experience.
These answers were not adequate, and they are still as vacuous a year later.
I’ve only been a student on this campus for five years, but every year the rules have proved simply to protect the team who will, from the start, inevitably win.
To be specific: If you don’t know how to bend the rules and exploit the many gray areas in the UVUSA campaign handbook, you don’t have much of a chance against others who have been in the organization long enough to know better.
The election process is in need of reform, as does UVUSA, which is comprised primarily of students majoring in public relations, communications, business management and sometimes, medical science.
This is, in actuality, recycling from a homogeneous group of students that do not necessarily represent our strongest programs. Why is it that a student interested in humanities, physical sciences or performing arts is less adequate than public relations and communications?
A year ago, Loumeau suggested being involved in politics means working up the ladder “to ensure they have necessary experience.”
Good experience is indeed important. I just think that, at an undergraduate college, a philosophy major should have as many good ideas about running a higher learning institution as a business major, and should be given the chance to prove it.
Surely UVUSA is not the only student organization that can provide the right experience for someone who wants to run for the government. But during election time, “extremely rigid rules” will not help someone who comes from anywhere else.
True innovation would be a student government organization that is able to attend to the needs of so many thousands of students because it can reach every student group on campus. The majority of students, or at least more than the few at present, would have a thorough understanding of where fees go and why, how to contribute to campus prestige no matter your program, how to prepare for graduate school and the professional world with the help of student-run conferences and publications, and be better acquainted with current persons relevant to campus interests.
These things, and more, would help us become better citizens as well because actively participating in politics means actively participating in what’s already around you most of the time; no matter what corner of campus you spend the most time in, you can improve your time there, and the academic environment surrounding you, if you just know how to look for the opportunities.
But for the past year, our student government has, under Loumeau’s leadership, provided mostly opportunities for date nights and pretend-tailgates. Not many students know when senate hearings are or how to change the constitution. We don’t know why all the new building signs had to be paid for, in part, with our own fees, or why those same millions of dollars in fees have been helping pay for a football team for at least a decade.
Students might benefit from a campus event that brings prominent professors and serious professionals from credible universities and disciplines. This is in contrast to most speaker events involving famous “real life” celebrities who are typically related to feel-good sports movies (which are themselves of some dispute). Because such speakers always promise and deliver massive attendance, student government has it easy while various programs on our campus must pull together the funding on their own for a visit from a Sandy Skoglund, a Cornel West, or a Stephen Jay Gould.
One year after Team Innovate won an election, thanks to a weak and failed process, this student is asking just how much innovation he saw. Loumeau’s promises, and his answers to the implications of a flawed system, are as stale as they were last spring.
(UVUSA campaign bylaws: http://www.uvu.edu/
By Matthew Jonassaint
Opinions Writer
Matthew,
Enjoyed reading your article – very well-written. I’m excited to see how elections play out this year.
Leigh
Its interesting to see how many people can talk ****, but no one is willing to step up and run for office. Stop talking smack and do something about it. I give credit to those fools who actually care about UVU to become officers, cheerleaders, etc., when so many students don’t give a ****.
Holy cow is this a UVUSA hate fest?! I feel like every week when I read the Review you guys are constantly writing about how bad UVUSA is. Not only just those involved but also those running in the upcoming elections. If you have so much to fuss about why don’t you run? I have attended some UVUSA events and I also know a few people involved in this organization and they are great people with great intentions! Why don’t you guys ever focus on the good that they are doing for our school? They work hard to provide a great experience for UVU students! Also just a little advice maybe you should get your facts straight or just not say anything at all!!!!
Look, I don’t claim to be an expert on this, but it seems to me like the UVU Review has an “ax to grind.” I don’t know anyone on UVUSA (at least very well), but I’ve seen a few of their events and they seem to do a very professional job. As a UVU wrestler, I appreciate the constant support UVUSA and the MAWL have given us. Additionally, they seem to use student fees on things that are important and relevant to us students. Seems like the staff at the UVU Review is akin to a spoiled child who doesn’t get a toy he wants. Too bad they can’t put together a credible paper for the students…
I am not involved within UVUSA or any organization on campus, but I do read the UVU Review. I love being infomred about what is happening on campus, but the more I read this paper I realize it is nothing more than garbage. I did a little digging myself and noticed the UVU Review’s funding is determined by UVUSA. I am not 100% sure how the process works, but I am smart enough not to piss of the people that fund me. I say UVUSA should stop funding you guys. Like my mother always said “if you dont have something nice to say don’t say anything at all” -pretty sure it is way smarter to not print things you think my hurt you in the end. GO UVUSA.I appreciate all that you do for UVU, with the exception of funding this horrible paper.
Wait–student fees are going towards a football team? Really? If so, that’s somewhat disturbing, because I don’t recall UVU having a football team.
The entire student body should have an axe to grind with the UVUSA. It is our money they are misappropriating.
Also, the rules about candidacy for student government preclude a significant portion of students from running.
Redress? That’s what open dialogue is for. This is a proper use of the opinions section of media. If you don’t like the opinions in the review, write one. I’d love to comment on it.
Dear Matthew Jonassaint,
I am the UV Mentor Liaison on UVUSA, and have had the great opportunity to be for 2 years now. I represent the UV Mentor Program where we mentor students in the Student Success classes. I have read your article and have discussed it with many members on council and we would love for you to come down and learn more about UVUSA (this is an open invitation to everyone). We would also love to discuss any concerns you have with UVUSA and the election process. We are always open to hearing the students out on how to become better. There are many of us who come from different programs on campus (not just the ones you mentioned in your article)and we would like to share with you how we are representing our own programs when it comes to making decisions for UVU students. Please feel free to visit and keep up the writing!
Sincerely,
Natasha Carlton
@Jake
Whatever quality assessments you want to make of the paper are fair game and a matter of opinion. However, that your quarrel with the paper is not with the truthfulness or relevance of its stories, but rather with the politeness and admin-friendliness of its content should worry anyone who understands the function of journalism.
The UVU Review is not a tool for UVUSA propaganda, nor should it be. It is in fact funded by both student fees and internal advertising (not solely student fees as you assert), and represents one of the only mediums available through which students can become informed about their campus.
Also, let UVUSA pull the plug. See what happens when word gets out that they silence criticism to the detriment of students- both those who read the paper and those who seek to hone their writing and reporting skills by working as staff members. Talk about…
Hey Matt,
I know this is an opinion column but at least do a little bit of research. Most of these “facts” are nothing more than a misinformed opinion of someone who clearly has a problem with UVUSA. If you have issues with the legislation, that is ok, but personal attacks on Mr. Loumeau and the rest of the executive branch is pathetic and a childish way of proving a point. It’s columns like this that give student newspapers a bad name and hurts the credibility of the paper. Shame on the editor that allowed this slanderous filth to be printed. At least put a little more work into your sloppy, slanted view on this issue.
I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school… I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy…
Dang! I never realized how good I look in my picture! Thanks Matt!! Ladies, text me 8019284210.
Surprised at the level of animosity at the attacks on the paper over an opinions article. It is reasonable that those supporting UVUSA, a student service organization, would also look to support the paper. It is one of the only mediums in which students voices can be heard. The argument that high school students writing for the paper invalidates it in anyway shows a misunderstanding of our school altogether. UCAS makes up thousands of our student body. In fact these students are the cream of the crop. Last year a UCAS student won a women’s issue essay contest for her writing. While I don’t know if high school students do write for the paper, I do know the paper is there to create opportunity to those who want it.
Also, for Emma and the author, if our student government is so corrupt, why don’t you get off your MacBook and run yourself? Since you both clearly have all the answers to what’s ailing our school, I sure would vote for you. All I see here are more people complaining about things they don’t try and change themselves.
Wow… That’s really all I have to say. Most of you don’t even realize what the UVU review does, do you? Half these comments just made me sick to read.
I don’t understand how bashing Mr. Loumeau is raising awareness of problems at UVU. Of course there are organizational problems with student government. It should be noted that a lot of that is due to how peculiar UVU is as a university. the article implies that somehow UVUSA and Mr. Loumeau stopped other people from running against them, which seems far-fetched. And of course 2% of uvu students voting is their fault too… I haven’t done much with UVUSA to be honest and as somewhat of an outsider, I have to say that this article comes off naggy and unprofessional. Maybe a focus on real issues and practical solutions would benefit more than pointing fingers like children. Especially if you want to raise awareness. Some legit sources would be great too. I’m all for change but this article will not help the process.
Matthew,
I am a huge advocate of journalism, however I feel integrity was compromised in this piece. While I understand your point in the types of programming and the “true” innovation you mention, your argument is flawed. Of course those who have been involved with UVUSA have an advantage over those who haven’t been involved…..that’s life. This is true in elections of all levels and in any work environment. Being involved and working up through the ranks is not sleezy, but rather a natural progression. It’s the reason promotions exist.
Every year an article like this is released and still students aren’t flooding to vote or run. Why? Probably because they don’t want to put the time and dedication required in these positions. Stop whining and start acting because this story is really getting old. Student fees is an open hearing, want to learn more? Join a campus…
Reached a character limit…Join a campus committee or UVUSA. for the record, I do think the UVU Review is a great paper and it’s important to show all sides of an argument and journalism thrives on controversy. That being said, it’s just important opinion doesn’t trump fact because this leads to assumptions and inaccuracies. Then we have a whole heap of students in an uproar over things that aren’t true or with only half of the real story. I’m happy to speak with anyone who has concerns or questions, I am graduate of UVU almost two years now.
I love how all the comments daring newspaper staff and others to run COMPLETELY miss the times Jonassaint’s article mentions how the election process is so problematic that it may possibly discourage anyone outside UVUSA from ever running…this is to say nothing of all the opposing teams of previous years who have never won because they aren’t from UVUSA!
And the Editor in Chief of UVU Review did try to run about three years ago. It was probably one of the closest races ever. But the incumbent team won- like they have for ten years.
Richard,
I never said the elections packet was final either. While it hasn’t changed much, it doesn’t mean that it is not open for discussion or under review as issues arise. Besides, have you read through the packet? It isn’t rocket science. Students often complain they weren’t aware of resources available, that is not an issue of the rule packet but rather a lack of strategic planning. Consider the election process for president or local office, you think all the tips and tricks and resource planning is laid out in that packet? No, because it is left to the out of the box thinking of the candidate.
In regards to Athletic support, you can’t ask for finances from departments so I am not sure what you are referring to. If an individual knows people in athletics as a friend and recruits them for campaigning that is just good networking.
Your money is not being used to pay the president or for signage as you say….Campaign money is an out of the pocket expense from the candidate with a set limit. There is sponsorship opportunities if I recall but it is not your money. The millions of dollars you speak of is also inaccurate to some degree. There are also a lot of campus-wide faculty, professors, and other students not related to UVUSA that sit in on committees and hearings. Attend student fee hearings, its a very interesting process. I was surprised at how much I didn’t realize actually happens. UVUSA is comprised of students who pay fees as well, we are just as protective about fees as the next student. I know what its like to pay for school, it’s not cheap. I like the UVU Review, I just think sometimes they speak before they have all the facts.
As a former UVUSA President, VP, Spirit Chair/MAWL President, and Club Ambassador, I would like to address a few points:
(1) Anyone has the OPPORTUNITY to apply-they choose not to.
(2) I ran against another incumbent team & non-incumbent team-one of us had to lose, and we didn’t know who until the final announcement.
(3) Don’t allow the past few elections bias your opinion on an age-old process. Base them on the long term.
(4) @Richard, you are way off on so many issues! Get the facts by sitting down and talking with a current or past President, or a UVUSA adviser. For example, you didn’t pay a single penny for the ‘signs’, and I never received any $$ from Athletics. 🙁
(5) UVUSA doesn’t handle millions, they ALLOCATE or manage the accounts of millions to faculty & staff to use according to campus policy.
(6) The packets has changed and does often.
…That’s for starters.
Speaking from experience, there are definitely some non-spoken, non-written rules about the student government elections campaign that a non-UVUSA team would not know about until after the fact.
To give my honest opinion. The UVU Review is a rag. An article about nature worship was once considered front-page news. I spent ten days this summer with a group of campus newspaper editors and writers from Ivy League schools and other prestigious universities (the editor of the Brown Daily Herald, a writer for the Duke Chronicle, a writer from the Daily Northwestern, etc…) and got to see what real writing is supposed to look like. Our time was spent learning and educating ourselves on the Middle East. These real journalism students understand the difference between writing an opinion piece (while apparently bitter) and learning all the facts and then forming an opinion. Why not address the problems in the process rather than defaming the character of President Loumeau (all due respect)? Why not discuss the merits of reforming the system towards individual races rather than team race
s? Simple answer? The UVU Review is an amateur attempt at writing.
Just to clarify, not just ANYONE can join UVUSA or run for presidency.
There’s a group of people that is not allowed AT ALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES able to receive scholarships. Therefore, they can’t do UVUSA unless it’s all voluntary. Since there’s no scholarship, said students must work and can’t give in the necessary time.
I know a lot of people in UVUSA and I do believe they do some good, but I honestly think that retreats are a huge waste of money.
These retreats are all fun mixed in with some team building exercises. These things could be done at our own campus.
Also, having games in the student government room is a waste. It should be a place of work.
I believe UVUSA could do so much more for their students and allow their fun budget to be cut down.
This is just a thought from the silenced voice that wishes they could do something about it, but unfortunately, I…
I think I am going to comment a few times here. I know a thing or thirty about this.
Good article Matthew. It takes me back to the 2009 elections… which isn’t a good thing. It just shows that the deeply embedded cronyism of the student govt. dog and pony show is still alive and well. The conflict of interest with members being on the elections committee makes the election process a complete farce.
One commenter said that it was dumb for the UVU Review to print this because UVUSA is in charge of it’s funding. That’s a really bad reason to criticize this article, but I think it brings up a real problem – the funding for the newspaper should not be tied to student govt.
ondence with the Chief Political Analyst of the Jerusalem Post, to name a few reasons why I do not care what you think of yourself or to whom you shouted obscenities.) My only care in the whole entire world (possibly hyperbole unbecoming a serious article in a serious paper but definitely allowed in an online comment section) is that the staff of the UVU Review understand that tripe in writing should not be held as a standard. A journalist with intellectual motives at hand would have provided a constructive rather than destructive opinion. Edmund Burke in his “Thoughts on Present Discontents” argued the role of a legitimate opposition is to posit solution rather than spew vitriol.
Matthew,
The year that Loumeau was Vice-President of Academic Senate they brought Erin Gruwell. She is someone that the school feels is important enough to bring back to school for this year’s graduation ceremonies. They also brought a Pulitzer Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin.
You do realize only one branch of the UVUSA plans activities, right? The ACTIVITIES branch plans fun activities to benefit students.
Heaven forbid should anyone praise the UVUSA for Costa Vida, Pizza Hut, and Subway being on campus. Or increase bus routes, oh yeah and for being strong and NOT raising students fees by all the proposed amounts.
God Bless the UVUSA.
I just wasted an hour of my life reading all of your wonderful comments…I’m so depressed right now. i will never get that time back. So sad. i know that none of you really care what I have to say because you don’t know me but I’ll say it anyway; most of the people i talk to don’t get involved in student government because they just don’t care. they feel their opinions fall on deaf ears as do I. I feel like the out cast trying to talk to the popular kids. Well, there goes some more of my time wasted.