Our first major issue is the claim of Chairperson Kristy Currier’s committed “wage fraud.” Currier has been accused of neglecting her ASMSU duties this past summer while away on an out-of-state internship. Although ASMSU has been debating whether Currier actually did the work for which she was paid, that is not our primary concern. What is most striking is the amount she received — $2,228.55 throughout the course of 10 weeks as part of a biweekly stipend through MSU’s payroll system. This is more than what many students make working full-time for the summer, and seems inordinate to the amount of work that actually is being accomplished on behalf of MSU’s student body.

We are not doubting Currier did some work. She might have worked very diligently, but to be paid more than $222 per week seems somewhat exorbitant. It’s worth noting this salary is paid in large part by the $16.75 ASMSU tax on all MSU students. It would be in ASMSU’s best interest to make its payment system more transparent to the students it serves; and it is more than welcome to attempt to justify the pay members receive for the work they do.

But what is even more upsetting to us than ASMSU’s excessive payment system is how they its members have conducted themselves as of late. Currier’s primary accusers are former assembly member Ryan Starski and College of Natural Sciences Representative Mandy Griffin. ASMSU was hesitant to confirm Griffin as a voting representative because of her “romantic link” with former Academic Assembly Chairperson Christopher Kulesza. Starski also was accused of harboring a personal vendetta against Currier because he supposedly is “buddies” with Kulesza. The controversy looks like one, big convoluted high school drama.

ASMSU should know quite well that politics is perception, and students’ perception of its so-called “government” is not very positive at the moment. ASMSU can accomplish good things, as we saw last week, but such petty and frivolous behavior reinforces the perception that these are simply kids playing government, using ASMSU as a sort of “playpen” for democracy. ASMSU has two great things going for it — the voice to enact real change on campus, and the financial backing to make those things happen.

Student government certainly has a place and can be a great vehicle for change on this campus. We are reminded of certain leaders, past and present, who acted as terrific ambassadors for students: Student Assembly Chairperson Kyle Dysarz, who has pushed for medical amnesty; Emily Serkaian, government affairs student liaison for ASMSU, who has worked hard to foster a good relationship between MSU and East Lansing; and former RHA president Mark Dobson, who was a magnanimous leader and had the best interest of students in mind. These leaders have acted as models for how student governance should be done and how student leaders should conduct themselves.

But one might question whether ASMSU as a whole truly represents the students’ voice anymore, or if it is just an arena for certain students who want the glamour of playing government, but lack the requisite maturity to act as real adults and serve their constituency as they ought.

Behavior like this is more akin to a high school soap opera than a student government at a major university. If ASMSU’s members can’t grow up and conduct themselves in a worthy manner, their Tuesday nights might be better spent watching “90210.”