The Fairfield University Student Association should be commended for finally completing and approving a new constitution, which works both to simplify and clarify existing policy, as well as instituting some new changes. However, it still does not go as far as we had hoped in order to create a completely transparent government open not only to the media, but the students as well.
The main problem The Mirror had with the old constitution was the complete lack of a policy regarding how the Senate could close meetings, for whatever reason. They have now added a specific policy which states they can only close a meeting with a two-thirds vote by the Senate in favor of it. This prevents them from closing meetings without reason, but it still allows them to block media and students when they are discussing an issue they do not feel the public should hear about.
Another change they made, which should make them more efficient, but which takes away from the student body, was to make the VP of Programming an appointed position. FUSA wanted to do this because it would prevent a situation like last year, where the three elected people basically came from three separate tickets. While this may not have caused any overt problems, it probably resulted in less cohesion than they wanted. The main fall and spring concerts, as well as the other programming events, are one of the most visible actions performed by FUSA. If there is one thing that students are aware FUSA does, it is bringing these acts to campus. To take the power to choose the person who will perform these duties away from the students disconnects them from their own government.
At the very least, the new constitution does offer a more concise version of the government’s rules. It’s a step toward making the government accessible for the student body, but still wanting in policy changes.
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