Item Information
Title
"The Secret of Student Congress," student publication The Siren, 2010
Description
"The Secret of Student Congress," student publication The Siren, 2010 , discusses the lack of diversity in student congress. Performed by Katia Carmichael and Sergio Ang.
Creator
PlayMaker’s Repertory Company in collaboration with the University Archives at Louis Round Wilson Library
Date
2021
Language
English
Identifier
Transcription
The Secret of Student Congress, from student publication The Siren, 2010
Actor 2: Here’s UNC-Chapel Hill’s best kept secret: unless you’re male, white, heterosexual and politically conservative, Student Congress doesn’t really represent you.
Actor 1: Despite the claim on the organization’s website that “Every member of the student body has representation,” in reality Student Congress is overwhelming male, not to mention overwhelmingly right-wing ideologically, In the recent election on Feb 2, only 10 female members were voted into Student Congress, which is comprised of 41 members elected by the student body on the basis of housing districts. Only a handful of current members represent racial or sexual minorities. These figures are alarming for a school recently featured in The New York Times for its imbalanced female-to-male student ratio.
Actor 2: While the numbers are unrepresentative from a solely demographical standpoint, it’s also important to note that many Student Congress members are actively involved in conservative student groups, namely Carolina Review, a conservative, student journal. Both of Carolina Review’s senior editors serve on Student Congress, one as chair of the finance committee, arguably one of the most influential bodies on campus. And remember the notorious “Don’t be afraid to look good ladies” columnist Justin Crowder? He’s a senator, too, and a prominent blogger for the Carolina Review Daily.
Actor 1: The lack of representation of female, minority and progressive students on Student Congress has serious consequences for the University community. Student Congress votes on bills determining representation of students in its body, approves executive branch appointments and has the power to amend the Student Code. Moreover, the finance committee controls the allocation of all student activity fee funding, which is currently set at #39 per student annually – a huge sum of money that is apportioned to student organizations for supplies and programming like speakers, performances and social events.
Actor 2: Because Student Congress controls the appropriation of all student activities funding, a small group of right-wing voices have a lot more power on campus than most students would prefer. The absence of powerful progressive representation in Student Congress has resulted in exorbitant amounts of money allocated to conservative groups like Carolina Students for Life – those graphic, 9-foot-tall fetus posters on Polk Place last year were mystifyingly expensive! In addition, funding for liberal groups decreased or cut entirely on political grounds. Students fro a Democratic Society has been particularly targeted with controversial funding denials and even lawsuits from the body.
Actor 1: The worst thing about the oppressive control of Student Congress is that we, the student body, fairly elected all of its members. Because so few students run for seats, election requires little campaigning. Write-in candidates are often able to win a seat the day of elections with as few as 20 votes, and those appearing on the ballot are almost always guaranteed a victory. Lack of interest in Student Government elections has allowed for a conservative monopoly that must be overturned if we want our voices heard and our money back.
Actor 2: Here’s UNC-Chapel Hill’s best kept secret: unless you’re male, white, heterosexual and politically conservative, Student Congress doesn’t really represent you.
Actor 1: Despite the claim on the organization’s website that “Every member of the student body has representation,” in reality Student Congress is overwhelming male, not to mention overwhelmingly right-wing ideologically, In the recent election on Feb 2, only 10 female members were voted into Student Congress, which is comprised of 41 members elected by the student body on the basis of housing districts. Only a handful of current members represent racial or sexual minorities. These figures are alarming for a school recently featured in The New York Times for its imbalanced female-to-male student ratio.
Actor 2: While the numbers are unrepresentative from a solely demographical standpoint, it’s also important to note that many Student Congress members are actively involved in conservative student groups, namely Carolina Review, a conservative, student journal. Both of Carolina Review’s senior editors serve on Student Congress, one as chair of the finance committee, arguably one of the most influential bodies on campus. And remember the notorious “Don’t be afraid to look good ladies” columnist Justin Crowder? He’s a senator, too, and a prominent blogger for the Carolina Review Daily.
Actor 1: The lack of representation of female, minority and progressive students on Student Congress has serious consequences for the University community. Student Congress votes on bills determining representation of students in its body, approves executive branch appointments and has the power to amend the Student Code. Moreover, the finance committee controls the allocation of all student activity fee funding, which is currently set at #39 per student annually – a huge sum of money that is apportioned to student organizations for supplies and programming like speakers, performances and social events.
Actor 2: Because Student Congress controls the appropriation of all student activities funding, a small group of right-wing voices have a lot more power on campus than most students would prefer. The absence of powerful progressive representation in Student Congress has resulted in exorbitant amounts of money allocated to conservative groups like Carolina Students for Life – those graphic, 9-foot-tall fetus posters on Polk Place last year were mystifyingly expensive! In addition, funding for liberal groups decreased or cut entirely on political grounds. Students fro a Democratic Society has been particularly targeted with controversial funding denials and even lawsuits from the body.
Actor 1: The worst thing about the oppressive control of Student Congress is that we, the student body, fairly elected all of its members. Because so few students run for seats, election requires little campaigning. Write-in candidates are often able to win a seat the day of elections with as few as 20 votes, and those appearing on the ballot are almost always guaranteed a victory. Lack of interest in Student Government elections has allowed for a conservative monopoly that must be overturned if we want our voices heard and our money back.