To the editor:

I’m afraid that I’m going to have to take issue with John Jennings’ recent column about UOSA published by The Oklahoma Daily on election day.

I do not disagree with the idea that some student leaders are trying to make significant changes on campus.

However, unfortunately, there are a large number of people in student government who never speak at a single meeting or author a single resolution.

For some, it really is less about making a difference on campus than it is about holding a succession of increasingly important officer positions to round out their resumes.

And, these people leave UOSA having never really picked a fight with the administration or tried to change anything.

I have never understood that. I’ve always thought that, if you sought a leadership position, you should have a shopping list of at least 10 major things on campus that you would change tomorrow if you could.

And, I’m really concerned when student leaders try to project this image that everything is kosher and that nothing needs to be done differently, when they’re satisfied that the most student government can do is add sidewalks, bike racks and condom machines.

There are a lot of things that need to be changed.

For starters, why is OU spending millions to buy an old monastery in Italy when academic programs are being cut?

Why do student leaders accept the assertion that dead week will not come up again for five years?

Why isn’t sexual orientation included in OU’s non-discrimination statement?

Why doesn’t OU have a code of professional conduct and a formal professional misconduct system?

Why is student information sold to credit card companies for $10 million, and where does this money go?

Why isn’t there a night program at the law school?

Why isn’t there any input in campus planning and capital expenditures?

Why is there no transparency in the university foundation or in various presidential initiatives?

Why isn’t there a graduate student union?

Why don’t OU’s stakeholders have a say in big decisions through a university community council?

These are all important issues that need to be addressed by student government. Yet, for some reason, everyone seems content with the “power” to dole out money to student organizations and pick out the color of recycling bins on campus.

I would encourage student leaders not to buy into this mindset.

Stop pretending that everything is perfect. Acknowledge that there is a lot more that can be done.

Start recruiting people to get involved in student government rather than keeping elections a secret or imposing new qualifications to run. Be more open to change.

And, if the election is fouled up, don’t be afraid to fire the election chair, extend the deadline and publicize the election process.

Don’t be content with things as they are. You need to set your sights higher and insist upon a seat at the table where the big decisions are made. The idea of “shared governance” is a mainstream concept at most prominent research institutions in the United States.

It’s time we had that here.

Nicholas Harrison

JD/MBA student