To the Editors:
Last week the Pioneer published the board editorial entitled “ASWC must always be mindful when allocating student dollars.” We in ASWC are thrilled to participate in discussion about ASWC’s role in serving the student body.
As a former Finance Senator myself, I experienced the difficult process of balancing students well-intentioned proposals with the need for a tangible, contractually-binding plan to bring their experiences back to campus. To a certain extent, ASWC must trust in the good faith attempts of students to fulfill contractual agreements and to give their experiences legacies. Fortunately, Whitman students are exceptionally bright, passionate, and motivated students and that is reflected in the confidence that ASWC has in requesting students as we approve and disperse funds. We look for requests which demonstrate a commitment to enriching the Whitman experience. Under the current Finance Chair Matt Dittrich and the Finance Committee, we have seen higher expectations for the impact initiatives and trips will have on campus. The basic contract and the process of including contingencies were implemented during Matt’s first term and marked a huge improvement in accountability.
The three students requesting funds to attend the Jon Stewart Rally to Restore Sanity presented a strong and well-prepared presentation which put forth several different ideas about sharing their experience upon their return. When senators had suggestions for how to better bring the experience and knowledge back to campus in an accessible and visible way–which included holding an additional event for the broader Walla Walla community, applying to present at the undergraduate conference, and going through the process of starting an ASWC club–the requesting students were open and enthusiastic about the suggestions. Furthermore, the discussion that took place prior to the vote to allocate funds was originally expected to take no more than fifteen minutes, however ultimately took forty-five minutes–illustrating how in-depth and critical the Senate was in making their decision.
Any opportunity Whitman College has to send students to a national forum in Washington D.C. to talk about political issues, even in the context of a comedic rally, is one that we should seize. We believe that valuable political discourse can take many forms. What will unify this group of people attending the rally is an interest in the issues that are currently being debated. These students are going into the rally with a demonstrated interest in American political rhetoric and discourse and are seeking to explore what this means during their time in D.C. Even if the worst happens and these students find that the rally features Jon Stewart’s celebrity more than the underlying political debate, the rally will in and of itself typify the problem of conflating popular culture and politics. This will not be lost on our students.
ASWC applauds the Pioneer in calling students to be critically and actively involved in ASWC. Our paramount duty is to represent the student body, enhancing student life on campus. The best way we can do this is with an engaged student body. All members of the Executive Committee have office hours to talk with students, biweekly Senate meetings are open to all students, and your senators primary function is to be in dialogue with their constituents. Students are encouraged to email ASWC at aswc@whitman.edu or visit www.GoASWC.org.
Sincerely,
Geni Venable
ASWC Communications Director on behalf of ASWC