JoAnn's CSEM Journal
Article for Secon update
I think this is pretty much done. If you wanna proofit that would be great!
Plenary: An Editorial Opinion
"These observations and opinions from plenary are entirely my own. They do not reflect the views of Sage or any group on campus."
Why does plenary have to be so frustrating, stressful, and demoralizing? First of all if people went, it wouldn't take six hours. I know it's not exciting. I know most people find it boring and would rather watch grass grow or paint dry, but really isn't a few hours of your time worth the privileges that we as a community enjoy because of SGA? Plenary isn't that hard or exhausting; it's simple really: show up, sit there, eat brunch, and raise your hand every 15 minutes or so. You don't even have to think if you don't want to.
I know some people in this school are completely apathetic to what happens on campus. I've given up on trying to change you people. I've done my best! I don't care. Be apathetic, but at least be apathetic at plenary. Abstain from every single vote. I don't care, but don't take it out on those people who do care about our campus and have ideas and aspirations to change our school. Don't force these people to wait around the gym for you for six hours.
You have too much work you say? Welcome to Bryn Mawr. I have work, you have work, we all have tons of work. But nearly 400 people found time to be there. Four hundred people realized that for a few hours there was a purpose greater than homework. And guess what you can even do your work and be productive at plenary.
Supposedly there are over 1300 students enrolled at Bryn Mawr College. At plenary I saw about 400 of them. Where were the other 900? Here at Bryn Mawr so many people are very opinionated when it comes to politics. Pushing voter registration and involvement, yet 900 people neglected to show up and participate in government on its most local level. At plenary one vote, one person truly does make a difference. Each and every one of the 400 people who cared enough to show up mattered.
Because quorum was lost so quickly many resolutions were not properly discussed or voted upon. But more importantly many Mawrtyrs were left gnashing their teeth and cursing the other students' disrespect. Not going to plenary is disrespectful to the entire community, especially to those who showed up and worked hard to draft resolutions. In a place where we extol the respect we have for all individuals, nearly two-thirds of the campus ignored the opinions of over 300 of their fellow students.
I left plenary fuming about all things that are wrong with Bryn Mawr. I hate feeling like that. I truly do love this school! It is an amazing and wonderful place to be, and plenary, an act that reaffirms SGA and our Honor Code should make me happy and proud of my school. But I was not happy leaving the gym and I was not proud of the 900 students who didn't care enough to show up. If you don't like things on campus the best thing to do is go to plenary. That's where everyone has a say and real changes can occur. However, the agenda and good intentions of nearly one-third of the school were stepped on by the rest of the student body.
