[mit-habitat-exec] [ASA] Meeting to Redefine the ASA

[asa-exec@MIT.EDU]

Dear Student Group Leaders,

As discussed at the most recent ASA General Body Meeting, the ASA is 
beginning to be redefined so that it might better fulfill its role as a 
voice for student groups and a joint committee of the Graduate Student 
Council (GSC) and Undergraduate Association (UA).  The goal is to 
complete this process by April.  We will be holding an open meeting to 
begin discussing the relevant issues and invite all those interested to 
attend.  The meeting will be held:

  *  NEXT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8  *
  *          5:30 P.M.           *
  *        ROOM W20-400          *


For those of you who were not able to attend the General Body Meeting, a 
brief description is given below of exactly what we are trying to fix 
and why, and proposed ideas.  If you have any questions or comments, 
please email asa-exec at mit.edu

Thanks,

Barun Singh      &      Harel Williams
GSC President           UA President



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INTRODUCTION TO THE RELEVANT ISSUES
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1. What is the ASA? Issues of vagueness and contradictions
2. How can the ASA be given more support from the GSC and UA? 
3. How can ASA get things done more efficiently?
4. What is the effect of any of these changes on student groups?


1. What is the ASA? Issues of vagueness and contradictions

The ASA is a joint committee of the GSC and the UA. As such, it is bound 
by the constitution and bylaws of the GSC and the UA. Yet it has its own 
independent constitution as well. The ASA's constitution says nothing of 
its role as a committee of the GSC and UA. It is also currently very 
much possible for the GSC, UA, and ASA constitutions to contradict each 
other, and it is undefined exactly what to do in this case. There are 
many additional issues that arise because of either vagueness or 
contradictions.

2. How can the ASA be given more support from the GSC and UA?

Currently, it is difficult for the ASA to get the type of support it 
needs from either the GSC or the UA. This is due mostly to the vagueness 
issues partially described above. For example, if the ASA makes a 
decision about something, neither the GSC nor the UA are able to provide 
any support for that decision, since neither of them are involved at all 
in the process by which decisions get made. By better defining the role 
of the ASA as a committee of the GSC and UA, both student governments 
would be able to better hold ASA accountable. This accountability would 
then allow the GSC and UA to give ASA as much support as would be given 
to their other committees.

3. How can ASA get things done more efficiently?

Part of the efficiency problem can be solved by giving it more support 
from the GSC and UA, as described above. The other major issue is that 
it is extremely difficult for the ASA to make any sort of changes at all 
to how it operates, even when making these changes could increase its 
effectiveness immensely. This is because it must rely on General Body 
Meetings - which are held only once every semester or so, and which many 
student groups do not attend - to make any such changes. These 
infrequent meetings do not give students the ability to reasonably 
discuss things and vote on them, and most groups do not wish to be 
forced to attend more meetings.
  Perhaps a different approach is called for. The guidelines for how any 
of the GSC's or the UA's committees should operate are written in their 
respective Bylaws. Since the ASA is a joint committee of the GSC and UA, 
a change to its constitution should require something similar to what 
would be required to change the bylaws of the GSC and the UA -- that is, 
approval by the GSC General Council and the UA Senate. In addition, the 
ASA executive committee should also have to approve. In order to 
maintain some checks and balances, certain additional rules can be put 
in place.  These rules might include (among others): (1) Changes can 
originate from student groups; (2) Student groups could have veto power 
over decisions made

4. What is the effect of any of these changes on student groups?

None of the things described above would cause any procedural changes to 
what ASA does on a regular basis (things like recognition of groups, 
allocation of space and resources, etc.). What they would do is:
* Allow for more efficient and useful General Body Meetings
* Increase the resources and support for the ASA and student groups from 
the GSC and UA
* Increase the ability of student groups to hold not only the ASA, but 
also the GSC and the UA accountable for decisions that affect them
* Allow the ASA to operate more effectively by making it possible to be 
more dynamic in reacting to student group needs while maintaining checks 
and balances to assure accountability

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