Comments on: CSA Confuses Transparency with Weblinks http://carlme.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/csa-confuses-transparency-with-weblinks/ Living and Changing the Carleton College Community Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:30:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Robert Orion Martin http://carlme.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/csa-confuses-transparency-with-weblinks/#comment-44 Robert Orion Martin Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:25:52 +0000 http://carlme.wordpress.com/?p=146#comment-44 I agree that it is possible for students to find out what's going on in Senate. However, the responsibility of CSA Senate as a representative body is to inform students about the decisions being made on their behalf. Also, see the Fritz/Walker blog (https://blogs.carleton.edu/CarletonGovernance/) where they note that given the poor turnout and imperfect election system, Senate doesn't even represent the student body that well. I agree that it is possible for students to find out what’s going on in Senate. However, the responsibility of CSA Senate as a representative body is to inform students about the decisions being made on their behalf.

Also, see the Fritz/Walker blog (https://blogs.carleton.edu/CarletonGovernance/) where they note that given the poor turnout and imperfect election system, Senate doesn’t even represent the student body that well.

]]> By: Jacob http://carlme.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/csa-confuses-transparency-with-weblinks/#comment-43 Jacob Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:28:44 +0000 http://carlme.wordpress.com/?p=146#comment-43 I don't mean to be rude here, but what is it that you expect from the Senate. For the most part people really are not at all interested in the day to day goings on of Senate. If someone feels uninformed about the decisions of the Senate at some later point. If you can access these materials online and read all the goings on the onus is upon you. I am not in Senate, but if decisions that I care about come up I talk to Senators, I find out what happened previously, and I don't blame them for my unwillingness to participate before. One bonus of a system where we elect representatives is that these representatives should be able to enact our will (for the most part) without us having to do it. If ultimately, I want to be involved in everything I will attempt to join Senate. It seems to me that if I elect someone to do something and then I continuously watch them I am doing it wrong. I don’t mean to be rude here, but what is it that you expect from the Senate. For the most part people really are not at all interested in the day to day goings on of Senate. If someone feels uninformed about the decisions of the Senate at some later point. If you can access these materials online and read all the goings on the onus is upon you.

I am not in Senate, but if decisions that I care about come up I talk to Senators, I find out what happened previously, and I don’t blame them for my unwillingness to participate before. One bonus of a system where we elect representatives is that these representatives should be able to enact our will (for the most part) without us having to do it. If ultimately, I want to be involved in everything I will attempt to join Senate. It seems to me that if I elect someone to do something and then I continuously watch them I am doing it wrong.

]]> By: carlmagazine http://carlme.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/csa-confuses-transparency-with-weblinks/#comment-35 carlmagazine Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:39:35 +0000 http://carlme.wordpress.com/?p=146#comment-35 Hi Robert, I'm Alex Sciuto one of the Carl editors, and your site popped up as linking to ours. First thanks for the link, and secondly, thanks for a such an informed blog. I've gone through your recent posts and I never realized so much went on Carleton! Hi Robert,

I’m Alex Sciuto one of the Carl editors, and your site popped up as linking to ours. First thanks for the link, and secondly, thanks for a such an informed blog. I’ve gone through your recent posts and I never realized so much went on Carleton!

]]> By: martirob http://carlme.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/csa-confuses-transparency-with-weblinks/#comment-34 martirob Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:18:36 +0000 http://carlme.wordpress.com/?p=146#comment-34 I appreciate your comments Pablo. But I do think that the website/workings of CSA are generally inaccessible, and I would like to continue trying to improve that. I also understand that not every student is going to be active in CSA. I think you chose a poor example though in the Campus Climate Survey, because of all issues, it really should involve the whole campus. I appreciate your comments Pablo. But I do think that the website/workings of CSA are generally inaccessible, and I would like to continue trying to improve that.

I also understand that not every student is going to be active in CSA. I think you chose a poor example though in the Campus Climate Survey, because of all issues, it really should involve the whole campus.

]]> By: Pablo http://carlme.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/csa-confuses-transparency-with-weblinks/#comment-33 Pablo Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:55:19 +0000 http://carlme.wordpress.com/?p=146#comment-33 If you want to see an example of other campuses having the exact same problem as us, check out this liveblog http://www.dartblog.com/data/2008/10/008222.php Dartmouth College (pop>Carleton) is searching for their next president. They had an open forum about the search and 20 students showed up. The problem is not apathy, rather its that they and our students trust their representatives to do the work for them. I for will continue to do just that. If you want to see an example of other campuses having the exact same problem as us, check out this liveblog http://www.dartblog.com/data/2008/10/008222.php

Dartmouth College (pop>Carleton) is searching for their next president. They had an open forum about the search and 20 students showed up. The problem is not apathy, rather its that they and our students trust their representatives to do the work for them. I for will continue to do just that.

]]> By: Pablo http://carlme.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/csa-confuses-transparency-with-weblinks/#comment-32 Pablo Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:52:03 +0000 http://carlme.wordpress.com/?p=146#comment-32 Robert, A couple comments, there are very few "passive ways" to provide information the student body, unless we want to go dorm to dorm and tell everyone what we did tonight (which we've tried and has failed) then how do we make people pay attention. I think it's a great thing that we have student leaders who step up for the student body. That means that while you're taking minutes and the Senate is making decisions 18~~ students can do something other than discuss how to team up with the administration to turn the climate survey into results. We provide the weblinks not because we think that everyone will suddenly read them, but rather so that those who access the page can find all the information they could possibly want. People do read the budget, and people do read the links. Does everyone? No. But I'll take every participant I can get. Great Blog. Robert,
A couple comments, there are very few “passive ways” to provide information the student body, unless we want to go dorm to dorm and tell everyone what we did tonight (which we’ve tried and has failed) then how do we make people pay attention. I think it’s a great thing that we have student leaders who step up for the student body. That means that while you’re taking minutes and the Senate is making decisions 18~~ students can do something other than discuss how to team up with the administration to turn the climate survey into results. We provide the weblinks not because we think that everyone will suddenly read them, but rather so that those who access the page can find all the information they could possibly want. People do read the budget, and people do read the links. Does everyone? No. But I’ll take every participant I can get. Great Blog.

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