ASMSU seems eager to improve its image, but students — especially incoming freshman — should believe it when they see it. ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
ASMSU’s current image problem stems from the controversies in which it was embroiled last year. The organization recently was forced to move its bank accounts back to an on-campus bank to avoid having them frozen by the university. It broke its own constitution in haste to merge its two assemblies for tax purposes — a crisis during which then-chairperson Justin Epstein resigned.
There were numerous errors in its 2011-12 fiscal year budget, causing much confusion and strife. Lastly, its articulation of the services it provides for students has been nebulous at best. These mistakes and crises have made ASMSU less credible in the eyes of some university officials and students, which is unfortunate because those are the only two groups that ASMSU should worry about. ASMSU is accountable to the university and students in a variety of capacities.
But if one believes the words of ASMSU General Assembly Chairman Steve Marino, ASMSU is “phoenix rising from the ashes” of its previous mistakes.
At their latest meeting, ASMSU representatives sought to safeguard their future by raising their voices.
ASMSU’s director of media relations Samantha Artley announced plans to improve communications with students by dividing up the group’s communications department, focusing on design, journalism, outreach and advertising.
Although those changes are a step toward addressing the concern that students don’t know all the things ASMSU does for them, it doesn’t address the thought that should be on every mind of ASMSU leaders: How do we make sure what happened last year never happens again?
The best way to look responsible in the eyes of the MSU community is to be responsible and take preventative measures to ensure the issues of the past do not rise up again.
Marino remarked during the meeting that ASMSU has no legal adviser who specializes in student-government funding. Maybe the organization should look into securing such a legal adviser if it wishes to move its accounts off campus in the future.
Also, to avoid further problematic constitutional questions, ASMSU should designate a group for a thorough re-examination of its constitution.
These actions, and others like them, would show early on that ASMSU is dedicated to avoiding the repeat of previous mistakes. By initiating changes, creating more checks and balances and preparing for future issues, the group can show it is moving forward instead of just saying that it is.
It’s one thing to win the hearts and minds — or at least grab the ears — of students through a renewed media blitz; it’s another to attract interest through a commitment to moving forward.
It’s early, and it’s a new year for ASMSU. There’s still time to announce and execute programs that would benefit students and resolidify public standing. Although we are desperately hopeful ASMSU does just that, its past actions do not promote confidence in its future.
Please prove us wrong.
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