Like the Fox 2 News "Problem Solvers," Eastern Michigan
University Student Body President Daniel Cicchini and Vice
President Emily Vincent have a message for the students:
we're working for you.
"We are here and always open to chat about any issue or
any concern," said Cicchini. "If we can't find a resolution,
we will find someone who can."
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ON YOUR SIDE: Student Body President
Daniel
Cicchini and Student Body Vice President
Emily
Vincent pose in front of the new student center.
The
two student leaders want to hear what issues
on
campus are important to their fellow students.
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Much of student government's time is often occupied with
supporting campus construction/renovations projects and
helping faculty and staff by sitting on search committees.
But the new leaders make time to listen to the concerns
of the students they represent.
Whether it's an individual problem, such as difficulty
with a professor, or a concern shared by many students
(parking for example), the leaders can't effectively lobby
for the students without hearing student input.
"That is a challenge that we try to address every single
year," said Cicchini, who served as student body vice president
last year. "I've found that one of the best ways is to
just approach people walking around campus and ask 'What's
on your mind?' It never ceases to amaze me how clear and
articulate the concerns are of even the most seemingly
non-involved student."
One topic on students' minds is the condition of the Pray-Harrold
building. Student leaders have been working with EMU President
John Fallon and the University's Political Action Committee
(PAC) to acquire the funds necessary to renovate the 37-year-old
facility and provide it with adequate, up-to-date learning
equipment.
To make it easier for students to address their concerns
about the classroom building to the state legislature,
student government created a Web site, www.prayharrold.com.
The site includes information about Pray-Harrold and why
it needs to be remodeled. To help students voice their
opinions, the site provides form letters, contact information
for representatives in Lansing and tips for writing a successful
letter to a legislator.
"Eastern has a good reputation with legislators," said
Cicchini. "The students are respected and our opinions
are taken into consideration."
Cicchini and Vincent continue to work hard on the Pray-Harrold
renovation project. However, as seniors, they know they
might be long gone by the time of its completion. Projects
such as this, as well as the new student center, which
was a focal student government issue in previous years,
often take longer to complete than a student leader's term
in office.
"It's amazing how quickly the year passes, and how slow
things move," said Cicchini. "It takes a long time for
policies to develop —projects often span several student
governments."
"It takes time and persistence to keep up with things," Vincent
added. "We start certain projects and trust that they will
continue with the next student leaders that come into office."
This year will be one of transition for student government.
The group will be housed in offices in the new student
center and will operate under the auspices of a new constitution.
Cicchini, Vincent and other student representatives researched
how student governments at other schools are organized,
and came up with a new model that they think will better
serve Eastern's students. The new government consists of
the senate, a group of 30 students; and the executive branch,
made up of numerous student directors. The result is a
more centralized organization.
"[Student government] used to be mirrored after the federal
government, but we found it to be ineffective at hearing
and addressing student's concerns," said Cicchini.
Recently, Cicchini was invited to a budget meeting with
the deans from EMU's five colleges. Since students provide
a good deal of the University's funding through tuition
and various fees, Cicchini represents his fellow
students' ideas about how their money should be best spent.
"It shows progress that a student was invited to participate
in this process. It lets us provide student input at a
significant level," said Cicchini.
Cicchini and Vincent present ideas that they have
heard from students to various University committees. Polling
on my.emich is one of the newest ways they have discovered
to obtain student input. The effectiveness of Eastern's
advising system is a topic where students were recently
polled.
"We received hundreds of e-mails about personal experiences
with advising," said Vincent. "Comments are very helpful.
We want students to know that they (comments) are read
and are taken into account when making decisions."
Both political science majors, Cicchini and Vincent hope
to attend law school after graduation and continue to represent
the people of their communities.
