COGS election needs to be redone to ensure fair votes
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With regard to the article, Members still concerned about graduate student group election (SN 3/26), The State News reported on the Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, election of officers meeting, at which a controversial document pertaining to then-President Manish Madan was distributed immediately prior to voting.
Since COGS members did not receive the document in a timely manner, it was not possible to disseminate the information before ballots were cast, nor was Madan afforded an opportunity to give a thoughtful response to the document.
Additionally, the distribution was at the least inappropriate, and at the most unethical.
Because of the above-listed reasons, I personally felt robbed of an equitable election.
Therefore, I think the best solution which will allow the graduate body to move forward, is that: 1) President Rachel Naegele step aside from her ill-gotten position; 2) The election of March 18 be declared null and void; 3) A new election take place, possibly at the COGS meeting April 15.
Paula G. Richardson
COGS representative, 2006-09
master of music theory candidate
Commentary
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Graduate Student
(04/02/09 10:56am)Report
I have another idea. Let’s just get rid of COGS and the petty bickering and corruption that is rampant in (sadly) every form of student government I have ever seen; both here and at my undergraduate institution.
Inflated self-importance is the best word to describe this. At the end of the day, who cares who the COGS president is? I bet it is limited to the 55 department representatives and the COGS faculty adviser.
The fact that there are approximately 25 department representative seats that are left vacant due to lack of interest leads me to believe that I am not alone and many graduate students just plain do not care about COGS and the petty, behind the scenes bickering that is preventing what little they do provide from being done.
I agree
(04/02/09 11:38am)Report
We need to send a message to those fat cats running COGS, we’re tired of their corruption!
This is stupid
(04/03/09 9:33am)Report
You’re wrong. Not a little bit wrong, but completely wrong. Your suggestion is not only stupid, it’s spectacularly, incredibly, blatantly dumb.
Using small words, this is why you’re an idiot:
1. There’s no reason to believe that Rachel had anything to do with the distribution of the VPIA’s report, or even that she knew it existed. You’re implying that she did. That’s dumb.
2. There is no mechanism in the COGS constitution to invalidate an election other than a referendum. You can’t just decide to hold a new election because you didn’t like the way the old one went. That’s both stupid and childish. If you must have a referendum, I suggest you look at section 8 of the COGS constitution (which I will quote here, so you do not have to do hard things with the internet, like finding stuff):
——
ARTICLE 8. REFERENDA AND REDRESS
A. All referenda required by this Constitution shall be conducted by the Council of Graduate Students in a fair and impartial manner decided upon by the representative members.
B. All referenda must have at least one month prior announcement in the major student news media.
C. Referenda shall not be held during the summer or during the first month of classes fall semester.
D. Upon petition of five hundred or more represented graduate students, the Council of Graduate Students shall reconsider any issue or officer.
E. Upon repetition of one thousand or more represented graduate students, a referendum shall be held on any issue or officer.
——
So 8.B says that you need to announce a referendum a month in advance. Together with 8.C, this means that you can’t hold a referendum until the second month of the fall semester, since it’s already April. 8.D says that you need 500 grad students to sign a petition in order for the COGS council to even think about another election.
This is not complicated stuff.
Anyway, you can’t hold an election on April 15th. The constitution says that elections have to be held in March. This should not be news to you.
Please try not to be so painfully dense in the future.
Graduate Student
(04/05/09 9:45pm)Report
Dear all, I do not think that any problem can be solved by scrapping the institution altogether. There is larger purpose behind setting up institutions and organizations. It is for the benefit of all and not to harm any individual or society. As an active member of any community we must keep a check on these and expose corruption, if there is any. And then, establish people’s faith it once again to meet its original goals to serve the community in various ways. I wonder why COGS has not called for a public meeting to address the bickering issues and retain its faith.
COGS Bylaw says, ‘The Council of Graduate Students (COGS) is a body whose power is derived solely from the graduate and professional students of this university and is, therefore, independent of The Graduate School.” Why are graduate and professional students not informed about it by now ?