It seems fair to say that almost all BYU–Idaho students want this school to be better. Not because it isn’t good already, but because the great majority of students here believe the words that President Henry B. Eyring spoke specifically of BYU–I students: “They will be natural leaders…[they] will become legendary for their capacity to build the people around them and to add value wherever they serve.”

That solemn prophecy requires faithful students with desires to serve and grow, and at the same time forcefully implies that they be given the opportunity to develop those leadership skills.

And so, with the new Student Representative Council elected, a unique opportunity is placed before them. They take office having each promised during their campaigns to improve dialogue between the administration and the students, create more campus unity, as well as address a myriad of other specific issues that affect students, such as parking.

At the same time, the new presidency inherits a rather dismal history of relations with the student body that put them in office. In a poll this semester by Scroll, only 39 percent actually even knew what SRC stood for. Far fewer knew who the president was, and it can then be easily assumed, what the council actually does to represent the students.

There are many reasons for this estranged relationship. Most of it is inherent to the system. Currently, the SRC is composed of only three elected students. That equates to each of them representing well over 4,000
students each.

That effect is reflected by the comments of students who have attended for years.

“I have no idea what the SRC does,” said senior Megan Bellamy.

Apathy is common among many. “I just don’t vote,” said junior Luke McCord. “The issues they address don’t affect my life.”

Besides that, in order to be eligible to run for office, a student must have already been involved in SRC previously, and most students involved in SRC are friends of those who have previously been involved. This organization develops, naturally, its own culture, opinions and viewpoints. Is it any wonder that the student body feels so disconnected?

Also for far too long, the most public appearance that the SRC has made after election week is over has been to be acknowledged by President Clark as being seated on the stand during Tuesday Devotionals. Other than their Web site, which is basically a complaint drop-box, SRC has made almost zero public report of its stewardship to the student body in recent memory.

It is time for SRC to reform, and the new presidency has the great opportunity to make it happen.

A new system of student representation must be instated that will provide not only what almost all the candidates promised in their campaigns, (better communication, more campus unity, etc.) but also will allow the students of BYU–I to begin fulfilling those prophecies that make the Spirit of Ricks vibrant, active
and empowering.

The newly elected SRC should organize elections for each of the six colleges that make up BYU–I. Students studying majors that fall under a given college would vote for students from their same college to represent them on the council in addition to a president of the
whole school.

If each college were allotted two representatives, that would mean that instead of a 4,000+-to-one ratio of representation, the ratio would drop to about 1,000-to-one, or about four times better than the current system.

Not only would the ratio of representation be better, but campus would become more unified because those running for office would be representing their peers–the same people that they study and work with in classes and projects. Those elected would then bring their unique perspective and ideas for solutions that have been missing for so long from the council.

It should be obvious that when students actually know the person who is running for office, they suddenly care much more deeply about the election and the issues at hand than if they have no previous connection other than a flyer and a poster. This will translate into more effective work that can be done in the SRC’s committees and projects. Instead of being limited to the relatively small group of students who currently volunteer, representatives could call on four times as many friends and acquaintances from their college to help with projects that their particular talents and expertise will best attend to.

If this does not tend towards campus unity, developing future leaders and working to build a better BYU–I, what will?

There may be those, perhaps those who have been previously involved with the SRC, who will say, “You just don’t understand how things work.” But let it be understood clearly: the “way things have worked” has not been working well at all.

The job of representing students must be reformed in order to facilitate the fulfillment of students’ divinely stated destiny, and the opportunity is here now. 

-Brett Stone

Campus Editor