Sleeping through the alarm

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Scott Andrew Shulz

A prime example of this is the relationship between the University of Arizona student body and the group of people we hired to represent us, known as the Associated Students.

We put together ASUA to be a voice for all of us in UA politics, to bring us closer, to protect us from being herded into unwarranted fees, and most of all, to make life better on campus by guiding us through leadership.

But, somehow, somewhere, something went terribly wrong. We gave up on ASUA, and even more unfortunate, our friends gave up on us.

We have shown our disinterest in ASUA in many areas. Last spring, voter turnout for ASUA elections was so low that only a small percentage of our enormous campus population actually took the four or five minutes required to cast a ballot. The general mood? "Who cares? Nothing is going to change anyway."

How many ASUA representatives can you actually name off the top of your head? Yes, there is a president. What was her name again? And how many other people work with her? How many people are even in ASUA? Chances are, you are still just trying to remember President Taylor's first name: Four letters, rhymes with "pear" with an "a" on the end.

However, the UA student body cannot completely accept the blame. For the reason we have turned our backs on our nonexistent band of representatives is because long ago they fell out of touch with us.

If ever there was a perfect example, it occurred just a week from this past Saturday during Wildcat Welcome Week. A group of freshmen and some parents anxiously gathered for a tour of their new home, to be led by their ASUA representatives. Sadly enough, these freshmen got a bitter taste of reality when not a single member of the ASUA showed up for the tour.

Bethany Martin, an undeclared freshman, summed it up best: "The whole thing is Wildcat Welcome week, and this isn't making me feel very welcome."

There is an entire campus right behind you, Bethany.

Likewise, the ASUA has done little to bring this campus together. How many campus-wide events has the ASUA put on besides Spring Fling? How many formal dances or parties has this campus seen where everyone was invited?

The ASUA has failed to unite this campus by holding these and other gatherings that promote a real atmosphere of solidarity. The UA has sadly been sectored into frats and dorms, black and white, young and old.

And, again, how about those ASUA suggestion boxes? Do they even check them anymore?

It would be wise of us to give a rat's ass about this situation. Change really begins with us, the UA student body. We can wait until next spring to vote in a new crop of ASUA officers, or we can take advantage of what we already have. Our ASUA representatives are students as well, and believe it or not, they do care what happens to their community. But they need to hear how upset you are! Let us take advantage of those old suggestion boxes. If each of us dropped in one idea on how to improve this campus, or mentioned one area of UA life that really pissed us off, just imagine what 30,000 of us could accomplish together.

And, along these lines, ASUA must come out of hiding. You, our officers, need to become more visible. Set up a booth in the Memorial Student Union where people can voice their ideas and speak with you face to face and create a true relationship with you. If we see eye to eye, we can stop being bossed around by tuition hikes, building project fees, petty charges and much more.

Two years ago, at Washington State University, the student association listened to students who were so upset over the high price of textbooks that they organized a protest, put themselves on the line, and pressured the administration to lower prices and give more money back to student programs. Indeed, change CAN happen if we get involved.

Let us put an end to the stagnant climate that is choking the UA campus. You can be assured it would benefit us not only as individuals, but even better, as friends.

Scott Andrew Schulz is a communication junior and can be reached at Scott.Andrew.Schulz@wildcat.arizona.edu. His column, Millstone, appears every Wednesday.