The “intercultural competency” test requirement for Student Government candidates who wish to run for office was just one of the ideas Altheia Richardson, Clemson’s Director of the Gantt Multicultural Center, proposed in a recent presentation to Clemson Undergraduate Student Government (CUSG) Senate. As an alternative, Richardson also suggested group training for CUSG members once elected.
All they really need is a Little Red Book.
I think I can get on board with this…
Question 1:
Describe why socialist economic systems, ostensibly intended to help the downtrodden, in practice invariably end up impoverishing the nation and harming those that socialism was supposed to benefit. Give examples of failed socialist experiments.
I’ve always wondered why schools of ant sort need student government. Students are supposedly contracting the services of such institutions to learn something rather than needlessly ruling over fellow students. Administration staff are paid big bucks so let them set whatever rules are necessary. In my experience at University, other than being exposed to the coercion of a closed shop union environment, student government was just a stepping stone for leftist assholes pursuing political careers.
During my years at UC Berkeley … I PAID my (then, very reasonable) Quarterly Tuition Fees which included a chunk of money for “CALPIRG”. The “California Public Interest Research Group”. I was offended that I was FORCED to PAY for this leftist group with my college tuition. They represented NOTHING that I supported or wanted to FUND. But this is how Democracy is KILLED … by institutionalizing Socialism.
The swamp has tentacles that reach across our entire country. There is SO MUCH draining that is needed. Everywhere.
After that we can test for ‘Jewiness’. No problems here!
My understanding is that it exists for three reasons. First, as you mention, to serve as a sort of “Model UN” for people who want to go into politics in later life. They get the experience of running for and holding office in an environment where they can’t really screw much up. Second, inasmuch as a student body constitutes a fairly monolith group that might like to undertake large projects for their own initiative that end up being a public good (for instance, starting a student pub on campus), it’s handy to have a small group of representatives and planners. Third, since the model of “pay for services” is a bit wonky in a university environment (half a degree is worse than none, as it has no value and you’re deep in debt), it is useful for the students to be able to negotiate with the university with one voice through their elected representatives in matters where the university may be screwing over the students.
And we thought the Komsomol had gone into the dustbin of history along with communism.
I had similar objections to paying students union fees while I was an undergrad. The student politicians did nothing for me and often represented views, opinions, and doctrines that I didn’t agree with. I couldn’t opt out of paying them because the university told me I had to.
Fortunately, that changed somewhat when I was a grad student. I didn’t have to pay SU fees, but, unfortunately, there was a graduate students association with was just as useless and out in left field.
For example, during my Ph. D. residency, when the GSA instituted medical coverage for grad students, I opted out of it. The reason was that I was on academic leave from the institution I was teaching at and was covered by its plan. The GSA, somehow, couldn’t figure that one out and I had a lot of hassle trying to set them straight. Then again, many grad students never had a job, so the idea that an employer might actually provide something like that for an employee was beyond their comprehension.
All they really need is to leave their nuts and brains at the door.