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Letter to the Editor: November 4, 2009

Published: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

WVU students deserve transparency in SGA matters

On Oct. 28, Student Government Association Gov. Taylor Richmond organized an event in which members of the Resident Assistant Council could express their concerns and suggestions.

Although there is nothing wrong with organizing an event, the problems arise when you lie to students and the board, claiming that you took actions to benefit them when in fact you deprived students of their full ability to speak up and be heard.

As quoted by The Daily Athenaeum Oct. 29, "Richmond sent an e-mail the day of the event urging governors to attend, saying he had tried to make RAC issues a Speak Up topic in the past, but his idea had been shot down."

Not a single governor received this e-mail inviting them to attend the event.

On a separate e-mail sent to the SGA president and vice president, Richmond stated, "Apparently this has never been to high on anyone else’s agenda except for my own so I simple asked her (RAC President) if she could open an upcoming RAC meeting to all RAs and I."

At the SGA meeting, Richmond claimed RAC invited him. He is giving us many stories, but none of them add up or justify his actions.

In a final statement sent by Richmond, "I didn’t feel like this letting everyone else know about it because I didn’t want it to turn into a giant mess of governors going, and to be honest, I didn’t want it to be postponed any more."

For the record, SGA did not postpone meeting with RAC. There is an official Speak Up event this month at Towers.

There is also no record of Richmond petitioning an RAC SpeakUp event to the SGA president or vice president.

The truth is exposed. It is the height of arrogance for anyone to deprive students of their voice and representation.

SGA should not have to deal with its members’ integrity. Richmond, trying to attend forums alone, is acting petty.

SGA events are not campaign rallies; they are a function of SGA. Students deserve to have an audience with all of their representatives.

Gov. Richmond, you may not respect the members of SGA, but you will respect the students we represent.

Students deserve to have their voices heard, to have their concerns recorded in an official university report. Students deserve governors who will not lie to them, and finally, students deserve a public apology.

 

Ron Cheng
Governor, SGA

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12 comments

DJ
Wed Nov 4 2009 18:31
SGA is a do nothing group of resume boosters, much as many people have said. Idc is Richmond went to a meeting with the worthless SGA consent, and I think it pathetic that Cheng needs to write so many articles about it, what are you trying to accomplish? I'd say go do something but I don't think the SGA has power to do much than elect officers and voice a small opinion. You are a glorified student council of a bunch of college kids, organize a dance or something! Just ST. FU and stop wasting space in the paper.
Anna
Wed Nov 4 2009 12:59
I feel like this is being made a much bigger deal than it really is. Do students deserve transparency? Yes. I was at this meeting and Governor Cheng made it perfectly clear that he felt this way. It's time to move on. This ordeal is becoming more of a hindrance than anything else. I wouldn't doubt that the entire board is ready for this to just be dropped. You governors have 4 months left in your positions. Get over this, get to work.
Your name
Wed Nov 4 2009 12:45
I think that if all of the political drama was out of the picture, SGA could do so much to benefit this school. All of this negative publicity about SGA makes all of the governors and the organization look bad, this is not fair. SGA does owe an apology to RAC, and a RAC meeting is not the same as a speak up event. Governors, please try and get past all of this drama and work on your platforms, remember elections are not until February.
Engineering
Wed Nov 4 2009 12:38
I would have to second SGA President's comment from Wed. Nobody cares and they fight like little girls. And yes Richmond sounds like a typical dirt bag politician.
SGAs #1 Fan
Wed Nov 4 2009 12:16
Sweet, more SGA drama! I think the SGA operates like a fraternity and exhibits similar behavior. It's a Whos Who of the student government network that move up the rankings and then bring their friends/favorites forward in the future. Kind of like Jared Ramsey winning homecoming king. WVU should hire the SGA a PR specialist who could mitigate the damage from the tantrums of these spoiled children.

Still, as a reader, I'm looking forward to hearing more about these issues that further confirm my low opinion of the SGA's integrity and importance.

Your name
Wed Nov 4 2009 11:31
Ron Cheng, do us all a favor and do something, like actually something. All you do is whine and complain about someone ese who is actually truing to do something with the little pull they have. You on the other hand? All you do is whine. Typical politician though, sit on your position, do nothing, and cry when others do things because it may mean in your little world they may get more votes than you. This started out as hilarious but now it is just stupid. Im sure if you went to a meeting on something relevant to your platform there would be no retaliation. Of course its a whole lot easier to play the victim and write hate letters to a newspaper than it is to actually even try to make a difference. Grow up.
CURRENT RA
Wed Nov 4 2009 11:25
Well I am glad atleast someone is NOT thinking about FRATS and actually working on somethign related to school. Taylor took the initiative, and I think you should be part of it rather than pulling is leg.
AssKicker
Wed Nov 4 2009 11:25
Cheng is acting like a little child. He is getting his ass kicked. Not kicking ass as he promised. He has failed us and lied.
Ron
Wed Nov 4 2009 11:04
Ron Cheng,

You do a great job creating controversy, however little work has been done on your own platform. Although you may disagree with the way Mr. Richmond goes about business, he is the hardest working person on SGA hands down. Even though he conducts himself in unorthodox ways, he has no problem creating controversy to shed light on important issues while completely understanding the collateral. Everything I have read in the past 2-3 weeks involves your personal vendetta to Richmond, and everytime the issue is resolved, another article comes out with you saying the exact same things. I think if you have an issue with someone, it should be face to face. Whenever someone has the time to sit back and spend this much effort on what a fellow governor is doing wrong, it shows how little you are acomplishing yourself.
Do the students you represent a favor and, accomplish something on your own, and if someone is doing something wrong, allow the president and vice president to handle the situation accordingly.

Dave
Wed Nov 4 2009 10:25
Honest question (maybe a little off topic, but I'd like any SGA governors or students to respond): has the SGA done anything significant in recent memory to actually help students? If so, what? The reason I am asking is because it seems like most of the news coming out of the SGA has little to do with representing students and a lot to do with organizational politics.
SGA President
Wed Nov 4 2009 09:54
Nobody cares about SGA or RAC. Everyone knows you guys join to pad your resume for future employment. You having your little hissy fight on the pages of the Daily Athenaeum is even more disconcerting. Cheng....nobody gives a crap. Richmond...nobody cares if you win or lose, but you sound like a dirt-bag. The end. Have a great day.
Former RAC Member
Wed Nov 4 2009 08:27
Governor Ron Cheng,
You are making a bigger deal out of this than it really is. I think you need to give a personal apology to RAC for overshadowing their council with drama. I do not think RAC has ever gotten any publicity, and finally when they think they are finding help (Taylor), you drop this political opinion over top of them. If I recall, I know you were student body president of a local high school and it bothers you that Taylor has come out and expressed his ambitions because you probably have the same... but don't forget your role on the board... Stop complaining about the problems and start focusing on the solutions... 1. RAs are underpaid 2. They shouldn't have cerfews 3. They should be allowed staying in their dorms over holiday breaks 4. They should be given ID tags that verify they are RAs (different from the student IDs)....etc. I could go on and on. Maybe I should run for SGA President, I am a student... Here's a solution... why don't you all make up, hug, do whatever it is you need to do... and all go to a RAC meeting and hold your SGA meeting at the same time? Here's another thing you can do (Great IDEA!)... how about maybe conjoining with RAC into helping you minimize cheaters during the elections in the dorms??? Have them be proactive during the widow of voting so there aren't any dorm runners. Team up with them!! Wouldn't that be great having an RA catch a candidate in the middle of someone's room trying to solicite votes??!? That would be sweet... And you know the DA would lovvve covering that. -haha

Get to work. I didn't vote for you all for nothing. It shouldn't be my job to motivate you either.







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