In the past five months, Student Assembly members have had a problem agreeing on almost anything. Now, even though Assembly members can not agree why, they can all agree that the Assembly needs to be restructured, and it needs to be restructured soon.
"If things continue the way they are, abolition [of the SA] is the only option," Class of 1998 Vice President Tom Franks said.
According to some Assembly members, "the way they are" includes being an unrepresentative body and having members who are confrontational, bickering and disinterested. According to others, it is having a rigid constitution that gives little power to the president.
"We suffer from declining membership, poor attendance, and general lack of respect," said Assembly Vice President John Honovich '97.
Honovich recently proposed the Assembly adjourn for the rest of the term to make serious attempts to reform itself. But the Assembly's Executive Committee rejected the proposal because members felt no need to halt some of the Assembly's functions while restructuring.
Assembly spokeswoman Alex Morgan '95 said the division in the Assembly comprises more than simply liberals versus conservatives. She said that the different philosophies people bring with them reduce the effectiveness of the Assembly.
Morgan suggested one group has a goal to represent every student in a vast, far-reaching style while the second seeks mainly to provide student services.
Last term, representatives from the two groups -- Honovich and then-Assembly President Danielle Moore '95 -- clashed often, leading to Moore's resignation.
Stacie Steinberger '98 said the antics of executive officers, who combated each other in public last term, discouraged many younger members from remaining active with the Assembly.
"If you see the four executives arguing, it's really annoying," she said.
Class of 1995 Vice President Hosea Harvey, a former Assembly member, said the Assembly's biggest problem is its lack of cohesion. He said the polarization of ideologies within the Assembly has fostered feelings of confusion over what students really want.
Harvey also said he does not think the Assembly is truly representative of the student body.
In order to reform the Assembly Honovich said the committee should look at the way membership is handled. Currently, the entire student body elects 24 students to serve on the Assembly each spring.
"You rarely know the 24 people you elect," he said. "You need to look at how those representatives get back to the students."
He said the Assembly's policy of allowing members to be appointed after going to three meetings and applying for membership should be considered. "I think we'll gain more legitimacy if membership is more closed and it will increases accountability too," Honovich said.
But Assembly member Michelle Stern '97 said appointed members are important because some people who are more quiet and would not do well in elections may still be hard workers and would contribute a lot to the Assembly.
Although most Assembly members agree with Honovich's motives, they do not necessarily agree with his methods.
Assembly President Rukmini Sichitiu, who suggested last night an external committee work on reforming the Assembly while it stays in session, thinks the Assembly's problems lie with the constitution, which was rewritten last year.
Sichitiu said the changes made the constitution more complex and took power away from the executive officers and delegated it to the whole Assembly.
Although Honovich vehemently denies it, many Assembly members believe his proposal was merely a move to stymie Sichitiu's plans for the remainder of her presidency.
Assembly member Tim Young '96 said he thinks Honovich's proposal is absurd. "This proposal was just politics."
Young denounced how many members only join to serve their own political agendas and align themselves in partisan block voting.
"Certain people are on campaigns to destroy the Assembly," he said. "John Honovich is responsible for promoting an atmosphere for people behaving the way that they have."
For the last three years, the Assembly has been strewn with problems.
After Andrew Beebe '93 called for the coeducation of the Greek system, the Assembly was struck with a conservative backlash that caused gridlock in the Assembly as two ideologies locked horns.
Since then, two presidents have resigned and one was nearly impeached.
Although Sichitiu feels the mechanics behind the Assembly need some work, she feels this term has been very successful and is optimistic for the future.
Honovich said he also is optimistic about this term and the future. He said while more members are quitting, those that do remain are more dedicated to the Assembly .
"I have hopes for the future," Franks said, "but it lays in the hands of the members."
"Rukmini's vision isn't getting fulfilled. John's vision isn't getting fulfilled. But things are getting done," Assembly spokesman Brandon del Pozo '96 said.
