2008 Woodie Awards
DASB rejects reform
Kelly Truong
Issue date: 6/16/08 Section: News
The De Anza Associated Student Body Senate rejected an election reform proposal last Wednesday that would bar senators from serving on the Senate Election Committee.
Currently, the committee consists of at least three members from the senate and three members from Inter Club Council. One of the Election Committee's main jobs is to oversee grievances filed during the campaign and issue penalties.
Under the proposed reforms, any student who has paid his or her fees would be able to apply to the committee. As in the U.S. Supreme Court system, the DASB president would select members and the senate would approve his appointments.
Senator Robin Claassen said he sees the senate not as a governmental institution, but as an advocacy body. Claassen said the proposal would add another level of bureaucracy to student government, causing senators to focus too much on internal issues. "I care very deeply about the ability of student government to be empowered and I find this proposal threatening," he said.
Political science professor Robert Stockwell questioned whether the problem of bias was inherent in the structure of the process. "I just wonder, is the system broken?" he asked. "That's always the question about most reforms: Is there a problem that warrants change? Has there been a history of abuse?"
Prior to the vote, vice president of administration Yujin Yoshimura said, "If this does not pass, then DASB is corrupt."
Unsatisfied with the senate's decision, he plans to continue bringing the issue up.
"It gives the impression to the outside that DASB does not want to split the power - they want to control everything. That is corruption," Yoshimura said.
"I think there are problems with the system now, but I think it works," Claassen said.
Kelly Truong is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact her at kellytruong@lavozdeanza.com.
Currently, the committee consists of at least three members from the senate and three members from Inter Club Council. One of the Election Committee's main jobs is to oversee grievances filed during the campaign and issue penalties.
Under the proposed reforms, any student who has paid his or her fees would be able to apply to the committee. As in the U.S. Supreme Court system, the DASB president would select members and the senate would approve his appointments.
Senator Robin Claassen said he sees the senate not as a governmental institution, but as an advocacy body. Claassen said the proposal would add another level of bureaucracy to student government, causing senators to focus too much on internal issues. "I care very deeply about the ability of student government to be empowered and I find this proposal threatening," he said.
Political science professor Robert Stockwell questioned whether the problem of bias was inherent in the structure of the process. "I just wonder, is the system broken?" he asked. "That's always the question about most reforms: Is there a problem that warrants change? Has there been a history of abuse?"
Prior to the vote, vice president of administration Yujin Yoshimura said, "If this does not pass, then DASB is corrupt."
Unsatisfied with the senate's decision, he plans to continue bringing the issue up.
"It gives the impression to the outside that DASB does not want to split the power - they want to control everything. That is corruption," Yoshimura said.
"I think there are problems with the system now, but I think it works," Claassen said.
Kelly Truong is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact her at kellytruong@lavozdeanza.com.
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