Wrong Priorities

When university president Sharon Hahs attended the Indian Student Association's Summer Show on Friday, August 31, it was a gesture of support for one of the largest student organizations at NEIU. Unlike her predecessor, our new university president is making herself more visible and accessible to the student body. These are welcome changes and it is hoped they continue.

Unfortunately, the Student Government Association has failed to extend similar support to another important and vocal group on campus. Let's face it, the only thing SGA really does is distribute student activity funds. I know, I was once a senator in the organization, and unlike officers, senators do not receive a stipend, making it difficult to hold them accountable if they fail to serve the interests of the NEIU community.

For example, the chance to hold a special cultural and educational event September 4 was lost because of SGA bureaucracy. Roy Brown, a famous Puerto Rican musician made famous through university protests, was invited by the Union for Puerto Rican Students (UPRS) to perform at its first annual Latina/o Open House and Resource Fair. But because the SGA finance committee denied funding, this well-known performer was unable to come to NEIU.

Xavier Burgos, president of UPRS, began the tedious process of requesting student activity funds for this event back in July. Wanting to have the Latina/o Open House and Resource Fair early in the semester, Burgos spent hours getting the run around, attending SGA meetings, and petitioning for the senate finance committee to simply hear its proposal. On a second try, UPRS significantly reduced the amount they were requesting, but to no avail.

The open house was meant to present resources to students and was sponsored by the Union for Puerto Rican Students (UPRS), Que Ondee Sola (QOS), ChiMexLa, Latino & Latin American Studies Dept., ENLACE, Proyecto Pa'Lante, Hispanic Heritage Committee, Alpha Psi Lambda, McNair Program, and the Summer Transition Program. Needless to say, these aren't just any organizations and programs at NEIU. They are designed to help an already marginalized community; students need to be aware of support networks available that assist them in being successful in college.

UPRS is a student-based group with a long history of successful events that is committed to addressing student needs on campus. Melvin Terrell, the vice president of student affairs, supported the event, and as did Student Activities Director Sharron Evans. So why did those select few in the SGA finance committee deny funds to such an enriching event on campus?

The events SGA choose to fund say a great deal about its priorities and values. Frankly, it needs to reevaluate the way it does business and I would challenge them to be more sympathetic to the needs of the large Latino community on campus. We expect much more from those who want to claim us as their constituency.