2008 Woodie Awards
Leadership choice lacks discernment
Alyson Browning
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Forum
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Another organization that selects its leaders based on leadership abilities is the Omnibus. Anyone can write or take pictures for the Omnibus, but the leaders quickly set themselves apart by meeting deadlines and treating each assignment with a great deal of passion. Those leaders usually find themselves in editor positions, and the editors that display an exceptional amount of vision and skill find themselves as the editor in chief, who selects those leaders who will round out the rest of the editorial staff.
In both Welcome Week and the Omnibus, the current leaders select the future leaders based on leadership qualities, expertise and passion. The leaders teach, lead and train those who succeed them to make sure the transition from one leader to another is seamless.
Unfortunately, SGA, the organization that is supposed to hold everyone together, experiences difficult transitions every year. The cabinet members are thrown into positions about which they know nothing. Some cabinet members have served time in SGA as representatives, but others are making their SGA debut as cabinet members. How can students be expected to follow other students who have no experience in leading? I must give them credit, though, for leading when no one else would.
There is not a whole lot we can do about the past SGA cabinets. But we can demand better leaders for next year who have been selected for their position based on leadership and skill, not on popularity, so that a seamless transition will take place and the 2007-2008 SGA Cabinet will be 100 percent ready to lead in August.
I will have no say in how SGA is run next year because I graduate in May, but for all of you that will still be here next year, I have two challenges:
Challenge #1: Examine your personality and heart. Do you have leadership skills? Do you have a vision for this student body? If you do, prayerfully consider joining SGA. Learn how the organization works, and if you step up and stand out as a leader, you might just find yourself on the cabinet. If enough people with leadership capabilities and vision join SGA, elections will stop being a popularity contest and will become a legitimate election to find the best leaders, and the student body will finally be led.
Challenge #2: When it comes time to vote for next year's SGA cabinet, carefully consider your options. You could make the popular vote, or you could vote for the persons who would best lead your campus to success.
In both Welcome Week and the Omnibus, the current leaders select the future leaders based on leadership qualities, expertise and passion. The leaders teach, lead and train those who succeed them to make sure the transition from one leader to another is seamless.
Unfortunately, SGA, the organization that is supposed to hold everyone together, experiences difficult transitions every year. The cabinet members are thrown into positions about which they know nothing. Some cabinet members have served time in SGA as representatives, but others are making their SGA debut as cabinet members. How can students be expected to follow other students who have no experience in leading? I must give them credit, though, for leading when no one else would.
There is not a whole lot we can do about the past SGA cabinets. But we can demand better leaders for next year who have been selected for their position based on leadership and skill, not on popularity, so that a seamless transition will take place and the 2007-2008 SGA Cabinet will be 100 percent ready to lead in August.
I will have no say in how SGA is run next year because I graduate in May, but for all of you that will still be here next year, I have two challenges:
Challenge #1: Examine your personality and heart. Do you have leadership skills? Do you have a vision for this student body? If you do, prayerfully consider joining SGA. Learn how the organization works, and if you step up and stand out as a leader, you might just find yourself on the cabinet. If enough people with leadership capabilities and vision join SGA, elections will stop being a popularity contest and will become a legitimate election to find the best leaders, and the student body will finally be led.
Challenge #2: When it comes time to vote for next year's SGA cabinet, carefully consider your options. You could make the popular vote, or you could vote for the persons who would best lead your campus to success.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Molly Graham
posted 3/15/07 @ 5:14 PM EST
It sounds as though this is something personal. You have personally attacked every person involved in this organization. Why is that? I know many people within the cabinet and it is wrong to belittle and insult them. (Continued…)
Ian Paterson
posted 4/16/07 @ 2:29 PM EST
Molly
"Her time commitment as well as personal commitment is just as big as yours and to say that the cabinet won a popularity contest is not a discredit to them, it is a reflection of student involvement. (Continued…)
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