The Shorthorn - Ready, Fire, Aim: Quick fact checking SC resolutions could save time

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Ready, Fire, Aim: Quick fact checking SC resolutions could save time

Written by The Shorthorn editorial board

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 06:49 PM

Student Congress presents students, faculty and alumni with the chance to make an impact on the way the university is operated.

SC allows anyone to present a resolution to be sponsored before the general body to be sponsored by a senator. It is first introduced to the assembly, and then sent to committee for research. If it makes it through committee, it is brought back before the assembly for a vote.

SC does a great service for the community, but it can sometimes be needlessly time-consuming.

Student Congress Resolution 10-03 was introduced last week. It asks that leftover printing money become available for other on-campus purchases, such as food or other supplies.

There is only one problem. According to the OIT Computing Facilities Web site, the “money” on the card is actually credits with no monetary value; therefore it cannot roll over.

The thought behind this resolution is great and shows an earnest desire to make things better for students, but five minutes of fact-checking on the university Web site could have prevented more work in committee.

Fact-checking would not take away from the concern of the community member who authored the resolution. The writer had a question, which still could have been answered.

Bills are not presented to the U.S. congress without being researched and meticulously written. The same should be true for SC. It represents the people of the university by taking a stand on what matters to the people. Adding unnecessary research to the committee only serves to detract that mandate.

There are instances where simple research will not suffice. Student Congress Resolution 09-15, “Mavs Go Green and Use Web 2.0,” was introduced in the fall. After research, the committee amended the resolution.

The amount of research necessary could not have been done before introducing the resolution based on the number of factors that needed to be considered.

SC needs to find a balance in sponsoring resolutions to avoid wasting time needed for the important work they do.

SC offers the university community a soapbox to voice its concerns. Checking available information in a penned resolution before sponsoring it could result in more work being dedicated to the bigger issues the SC constituents care about.

-The Shorthorn editorial board consists of editor-in-cheif Mark Bauer, opinion editor Ali Amir Mustansir, news editor Dustin Dangli, design editor Marissa Hall and Scene editor Jason Boyd
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 18 February 2010 08:27 AM )

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