Welcome to “Reality Check,” the Student Government opinion column dedicated to keeping the RWC community informed about student issues. This week’s topic: What’s up with Student Government?
Q: Who’s in Student Government?
A: Your current SG consists of five Executive Officers who were not elected, simply because no one else bothered to apply. (This, however, is certainly not an indication that we are incapable or anything other than well-informed, tenured, persistent people with lives just like yours.)
Your President is Aimee McLean; Vice-President, Heather May; Speaker of Committee Representation, me, Kelly Tanis; Treasurer, Nathan Vazquez; and Recording Secretary, Ed Lemen. In addition, we have several new members in the middle of, or having recently completed, the induction process.
Q: What does it take to be in SG?
A: Twenty-five signatures and enrollment in a program that meets at RWC (including BBA Extend or other four year programs) and a 2.0 GPA.
Q: What responsibilities are involved? (How much time?)
A: Attending meetings (two per month, approximately one hour each on Thursdays at 1 p.m.) with school/work schedule exemptions, helping with occasional events (1-2 hours per quarter,) and “working” the office for two hours per week.
Q: What are the perks?
A: Many are intangible, but the most important perk is the opportunity to involve yourself in your environment-really getting an understanding of how an organization works, and exactly what kinds of issues you’ll deal with in the real world.
But, for those of you who could care less about that, there are opportunities to sit on committee boards, write legislation, reconstruct our constitution, and important elements of recognition, community awareness, and empowerment.
If fame and fortune is what you seek, well, you may want to settle for notoriety and letters of recommendation for scholarship opportunities.
Q: Why is this column called ‘Reality Check’?”
A: Because I deliver a message that needs to be heard. Let’s be honest: most of us have come to RWC because of a less than stellar high school record, or because we’re returning after many years and fear Main Campus, or because it’s cheaper, a better location, or just offers classes at the right times.
Don’t underestimate the opportunities available to you here!
If you continue on after your couple years at RWC, you’ll be met with the challenge of showing how you measure up against all the other students who are just like you.
Department heads at Main Campus (or other colleges) and scholarship administrators are looking for three things:
1) Academics-GPA and class schedules;
2) Demonstrated leadership activities; and
3) Letters of recommendation.
In fact, 2 and 3 are often the only requirements for many scholarships.
RWC is your clean slate. Accelerate yourself. This isn’t the popularity contest that Student Council was in grade school.
Visit us at: www.rwc.uc.edu/rwcsg and www.myspace.com/realitycheck_rwcsg.
Be sure to stop by our new office in Muntz, 2nd floor, outside Room 265.
My email is cowanka@email.uc.edu.
By the way: Got wireless?