2008 Woodie Awards
CUSG derecognizes clubs
By: Daniel Taylor
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: News
After 52 student organizations missed a mandatory meeting in early Sept., Clemson University's undergraduate student government has derecognized 41 of the groups.
The meeting's coordinator Patrick Becker, a senior serving his first term in the Cabinet of Organizations, ultimately made this decision after representatives from these groups failed to attend. The 41 organizations are now prohibited from using campus facilities or receiving funds from student government.
Each student organization was required to send a representative to an assigned meeting (held in early September), where student government and guest speakers gave information about maintaining their program.
More than 300 groups attended, but the 52 organizations who missed the meeting had to pass an appeals process conducted by Becker.
Eleven groups passed, when it was discovered that they had actually attended the meeting, but were skipped on role call.
The remaining 41 organizations failed their appeal and were derecognized after the Student Senate supported Becker's decision. Prior to the meeting, Becker stressed its importance. Numerous speakers attended, including Erin Swann from the Office of General Council, Justin Carter of Community and Ethical Standards, the student body treasurer, and the vice president of the student body among others.
Callie Boyd (Student Body President) and Laura McMaster (Associate Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement) also supported Becker's decision to de-recognize these 41 groups and further stressed the importance of the meeting.
The importance of these meetings in years past is up for debate.
"An e-mail would have been sufficient for the information," said Taku Cowger, a student organization representative who attended the same meeting last year. "Perhaps new clubs would benefit. But for an existing organization, they did not have anything you wouldn't already know."
The process of appeals also leans itself to criticism. Becker, who began the process of de-recognition, also ruled over any objections.
The meeting's coordinator Patrick Becker, a senior serving his first term in the Cabinet of Organizations, ultimately made this decision after representatives from these groups failed to attend. The 41 organizations are now prohibited from using campus facilities or receiving funds from student government.
Each student organization was required to send a representative to an assigned meeting (held in early September), where student government and guest speakers gave information about maintaining their program.
More than 300 groups attended, but the 52 organizations who missed the meeting had to pass an appeals process conducted by Becker.
Eleven groups passed, when it was discovered that they had actually attended the meeting, but were skipped on role call.
The remaining 41 organizations failed their appeal and were derecognized after the Student Senate supported Becker's decision. Prior to the meeting, Becker stressed its importance. Numerous speakers attended, including Erin Swann from the Office of General Council, Justin Carter of Community and Ethical Standards, the student body treasurer, and the vice president of the student body among others.
Callie Boyd (Student Body President) and Laura McMaster (Associate Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement) also supported Becker's decision to de-recognize these 41 groups and further stressed the importance of the meeting.
The importance of these meetings in years past is up for debate.
"An e-mail would have been sufficient for the information," said Taku Cowger, a student organization representative who attended the same meeting last year. "Perhaps new clubs would benefit. But for an existing organization, they did not have anything you wouldn't already know."
The process of appeals also leans itself to criticism. Becker, who began the process of de-recognition, also ruled over any objections.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 23
Daedalus
posted 10/03/08 @ 2:06 PM EST
MANDATORY Fall Organizations Meeting
Student Organizations,
Please remember to have a representative from your organization attend ONE
of the TWO Fall Organizations Meeting. (Continued…)
Will McCameron
posted 10/03/08 @ 2:50 PM EST
Yes, but what you can hold Mr. Becker responsible for is unfairly deciding to start enforcing a rule that hasn't been enforced in the past without warning the organizations that he was doing so. (Continued…)
Daniel Blackmon
posted 10/03/08 @ 3:41 PM EST
Unless I am an idiot, it clearly states that "Big 8 organizations and Club sports DO NOT need to attend". That should exclude said organizations from any penalties if they did not attend especially if this meeting time interfered with those organizations functions (such as practices or meetings). (Continued…)
Jamele
posted 10/03/08 @ 5:31 PM EST
It's a shame when people catch all kinds of flak for simply doing their jobs. I can see how an emergency meeting would help, but the e-mail clearly states that if you have any questions or problems to contact Patrick. (Continued…)
King Pizza
posted 10/03/08 @ 9:00 PM EST
The student government's job is to represent student interests. Cutting 40 organizations, just because you are upset they missed one your meaningless meetings, is not "doing your job. (Continued…)
Roger Williams
posted 10/03/08 @ 9:46 PM EST
MAINTAINING RECOGNITION
There are three requirements that all organizations must fulfill each semester to stay recognized:
1)Send a representative to one Organization meeting a semester
2)Follow University Policies
3Update your information at:
a. (Continued…)
Tom Castro
posted 10/04/08 @ 11:23 AM EST
I remember this one time that I was pulled over for speeding.
I mean it was just five miles over, everyone does it. Does anyone really care.
The cop walks over and asks why I was speeding. (Continued…)
Ryan Settle
Ryan Settle
posted 10/04/08 @ 1:42 PM EST
To start off with I want to say that I was affected by this ruling. I'm a member of Club Weightlifting. I think since the officers of the clubs and organizations missed the mandatory meeting then punishment is necessary. (Continued…)
Lou Macari
posted 10/04/08 @ 4:12 PM EST
First they'll capitalize, then they'll bold, then they'll italicize, then they'll underline. And after that, there will, quite literally, be nothing else to do. (Continued…)
Ed Souza
posted 10/04/08 @ 4:37 PM EST
I think all rules and punishments should be changed based on frequency of enforcement.
Like illegal immigration, rape, murder, theft, bribery, insider trading, phishing, assault, public disorder, lew conduct. (Continued…)
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