Brandon Farmer made the mistake in that he implemented little or no research on the premises of his article. Granted that he was printing an opinion article, he still should have completed proper research to at least get the facts straight. Inaccurate or faulty journalism will rapidly lose readers and lose credibility to your paper. Printing an article without proper research is a journalistic crime in that you are deceiving your readers. Given the misrepresentation, I would like to clarify several areas of interest. Brandon Farmer wrote, “I understand that Student Government plays a crucial part in the college. I understand this because it is what I have been told, not because it is what I have seen.” My response to that is Farmer obviously isn’t paying much attention around campus, and he evidently did insufficient research to realize the significant role Student Government plays in the college. Farmer must understand that there is quite a bit of behind-the-scenes business that Student Government attends to that goes unnoticed. Student Government is the governing body of the students and is the students’ voice to the faculty and the administration. A few of the important roles Student Government plays in the college are as follows: representing Student Government in college functions, serving on UC Student Senate, serving on internal committees, overseeing all student associations, assisting interested students in developing new student associations, appointing student ambassadors to college-wide committees, assisting in the coordination and execution of the Student Awards Ceremony and the Fall Carnival/Organization Fair, and the list goes on. Apparently, Farmer in some way happened to overlook, or more likely failed to research Student Government’s role in the college.
Farmer professes that Student Government has not accomplished anything. I believe that Student Government’s essential role in the college is an accomplishment enough; after all, that was the sole purpose behind Student Government’s establishment. However, I find it intriguing that Farmer did not even hear about the sensational accomplishments Student Government made at the NACA Great Lakes Regional Conference. Oh wait a second, the Activist forgot to cover that story! In October, a group of campus leaders, of which five of the seven were Student Government Representatives, attended the NACA Great Lakes Regional Leadership Conference held in West Virginia. At this conference there were various competitions and awards were given to the excelling schools. Out of the all of the schools in the entire region, Raymond Walters won two of the possible five awards. Another major accomplishment is we have received national recognition in our efforts with the “Letters to the Troops” campaign for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Farmer must have over-looked the table that Student Government representatives manned in the Muntz lobby for those various weeks. We have made accomplishments with our Walk-As-One march for the National Conference for Community and Justice. It baffles me that Farmer has failed to acknowledge any of these extraordinary accomplishments.
Farmer complains that he can’t identify Student Government members. Maybe the “Student Government Shirts” that the fifteen plus members wear each day of a meeting might be a clue! Also maybe he forgot about the Student Government “Welcome Back Campaign,” which took place the entire first week of school. There was a table set up in the Muntz lobby, and executive members were out introducing themselves and attempting to recruit new members. Student Government members volunteered at all new student orientations conducted this past summer, and I spoke at each orientation introducing myself and the importance of Student Government at Raymond Walters College. Student Government is represented at every on campus college-wide event. Furthermore, during exam week of the Fall Quarter, Student Government members spent countless hours petitioning and informing students about the strike situation and how they might be affected.
Farmer suggests that elections be held in the fall. This creates a problem hence the term “two year college.” The executive members must be here to organize the election, and since executive members are in their second year they won’t be on campus the fall of the following year. He also suggests that you have two candidates for each position. In this I believe he feels the reason special elections are necessary is because an executive member resigns. The problem isn’t due to resignations. The problem is due to apathy, which unfortunately is a result of a two-year college. It is difficult to get students involved on campus. If Farmer is concerned about the special elections, it would be beneficial to all parties concerned that he discuss it with Student Government before reporting on it.
The Student Government representatives at Raymond Walters College are some of the finest and most dedicated students I know. Being a part of Student Government requires a lot of time, energy, and dedication to the students. They are a part of Student Government because they want to make a difference. They are volunteering their services to the college out of the goodness of their hearts. On the other hand, some representatives at main campus receive stipends, and tuition benefits.
Once again I am disturbed by the lack of research on Farmer’s behalf. Farmer is writing on a college level. It seems to me that at this stage in his education his journalistic skills should be approaching the professional level, yet his editorials strive far from it. Farmer’s article contained littler or no factual supporting evidence of his claims. Farmer’s editorial was based on his own opinion, of which he is completely entitled to have and express. However, it is necessary to properly obtain and mentally process all the facts through strenuous research before formulating an opinion. Otherwise, your opinion possesses no authority because there is insufficient supporting evidence to endorse your claim. My recommendation to Farmer is to thoroughly research the material he is intending on printing. Apparently it would have been too much trouble for Farmer to do a little research on his editorial. Instead he chose to portray his ignorance and lack of talent as a journalist.
I would like to personally invite Farmer out of his hibernation in the newsroom and to seek out his Student Government Officers. If he would feel so inclined I would personally like to extend an invitation for him to attend our next meeting. Meetings are the second and fourth Thursday of every month from 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the Flory Center (Room #12). The Student Government office is located in Room #10 in the Flory Center. Feel free to drop by at anytime, or call the office at 745-5738.
Sincerely,
Chad Watkins
President, Student Government RWC