TWUSA starts year at half-capacity
Council left with empty seats
October 1, 2007
Kristie Schwanebeck
It’s the age old question: is the council half-empty, or half-full?
With seven elected positions vacant, as well as four appointed positions yet unfilled, as the year begins, the Trinity Western University Student Association begins with a less-than-full council.
But that doesn’t stop Kerala Levitt, Executive Vice President, from being an optimist. “We didn’t have a full council last year either,” she said.
Alison Fraser, Vice President of Student Relations, feels a smaller council is not a problem. “I think that the people we have are intelligent and self-motivated,” she said, adding that “a small council can be just as effective. “
However, there have been a few resignations over the summer due to personal or family reasons that has left this year’s council short.
In an attempt to fill the empty seats, council is holding elections on Tuesday, Sept.18. Speeches will be held in chapel with elections to follow. Interviews for the appointed seats are in progress. “I’m excited about all the applicants,” said Fraser.
The main criteria? “We are looking for people who have it on their hearts to join TWUSA,” Levitt said.
This is good news to both the freshman and sophomore classes, which both currently sit without representation.
Although there is no official plan of action in place to accommodate those faculty or student seats that may not get representation, Levitt does not seem worried. “We are looking at the possibility that God’s plan is for a small but effective council this year.” Levitt explained.
One thought that is being considered is that the VP of academics would be more intentional about getting feedback from the various clubs that operate under the different faculty departments.
Despite the smaller size, Levitt remains optimistic. To date, there has been a fair amount of interest in the freshman seat, and although there has not been any sophomore interest as of yet, the council is pursuing a few leads that they have been given. If no one is elected as sophomore rep, then the plan is that the VP of student relations would get a focus group to address the needs of the sophomores.
“It is rather overwhelming to assume the job on one set of shoulders,” Levitt said, in an attempt to explain the lack of interest. She believes that by forming a focus group, they could alleviate some of the burden.
Any funds that would not be used as a result of empty seats would not be left idle. TWUSA budgets according to the departments represented. If there is no representation, then there are no funds allocated. Extra monies could be available to students who desire to spearhead a club or event.
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