Groups seek collective voice through Union

For the past few years, student groups at Georgetown have been held down by near-constant struggles with redundant layers of financial and administrative bureaucracy, forcing student leaders to spend endless hours filling out paperwork. When student leaders should be devoting their time to managing their clubs, they are far too often dealing with the Center for Student Programs and advisory boards. Student life at Georgetown suffers from these oppressive levels of bureaucracy.

The formation of the Student Groups Union represents the first concrete step to transforming this unhealthy dynamic. At last, it seems the power of the funding boards may not be absolute.

This body will be far more representative of Georgetown student life than any advisory board, or even GUSA. The SGU will include one representative from all groups that have formal access to benefits, as well as The Corp, GUSA and the Credit Union. Groups from all five financial advisory boards will be represented and led by an internally-elected executive board that will oversee the activities of the union.

While the Union’s creation is a positive development for Georgetown, its necessity represents a tragic low-point in the Student Activities Commission’s relationship with its constituent groups. Make no mistake, this movement exists because SAC, the advisory board with by far the most clout, has been transformed into a pedantic court of arbitration for every single event clubs wish to hold. It has overstepped its financial authority and sees no problem in dictating club policies.

A major priority of the SGU must be to advocate on behalf of clubs, a job that SAC has neglected to do. SAC’s draconian funding apparatus should be the Union’s first target. Speaking collectively will strengthen clubs that before have had to face SAC alone.

The Union’s steering committee also identifies collaboration between clubs as one of its primary objectives. This is long overdue. Committee Co-Chair Eitan Paul (SFS ’12) notes that the inaugural general meeting of the SGU will mark “the first time that student leaders from so many groups will be assembled together in the same room.” The Union will provide a mechanism where they can work together on new and collaborative initiatives that creatively bring together various interests and organizations.

The University should view the creation of the Union as a referendum on the club funding system. The emergence of the SGU demonstrates yet again that the funding process needs a complete overhaul, not just further tinkering around the edges.