How SGA Turns to House of Cards
“One bite at a time. That’s how you devour a whale.”
If you have just read that line with a soft southern drawl, then congratulations. If not, don’t worry; this simply means you’re not a power-hungry person who is obsessed with climbing the political ladder by any means necessary. The quote comes directly from Netflix’s “House of Cards”, where the main character schemes his way from House Majority Whip all the way to the President of the United States.
If you’re reading this and thinking that I’m on my way to expose AUP’s very own Frank Underwood, I’m afraid that’s not the case. Instead, I will be bringing to light thoughts shared by the AUP student body– as well as my own contributions– as to why the student government association (SGA) seems to turn into a new season of House of Cards with every new student team.
Having been involved in SGA myself as both an executive and now a senator, the unnecessary complexity of drama in student politics is something that I’ve seen year after year. To quote Saturday Night Live’s Roseanne Roseanneannadanna, “there’s always something: some piece of drama, someone being on the verge of being impeached, some new battle lines being drawn each year, the list goes on.”
I have always considered this to be normal– even an unmentioned condition that comes with the job. However, after my participation last year, the remarkably quick start to the backroom scheming, and hushed private conversations, I felt compelled to investigate why, year after year after year, this mess seems to take shape in what is supposed to be AUP’s most unbiased and supportive organization.
For the readers that are unfamiliar with how the SGA is set up, there are two main components. The Executive Team is made up of nine total members, two presidents, two vice presidents, two communication directors, two social directors– one for each the undergraduate and graduate team. Lastly, there is one treasurer who serves both teams.
The student senate is made up of both Vice Presidents, one communications director, 25 elected student senators who represent either their class or their departments, and the judicial student chair. For this piece I have talked to students who have participated in SGA in different roles.
The feedback varies from each perspective, but a common theme holds true. One student, Dominique (for the sake of authenticity, my sources have asked to remain anonymous) said,“it feels like people are not able to compromise with each other once toes have been stepped on.” Frankie, another AUP student, agreed and added,“there’s no official hierarchy within SGA, but they definitely try to enforce one.”
Image Credit: Unsplash/ Tingey Injury Law Firm
I wholeheartedly agree with both of them. From experience, I can confirm that people like to have titles. Further, they like to enjoy any imputed power or respect that comes with said titles. If someone does not feel like they or one of their teammates has the right title, or feels that their power is not being respected by either a member of their team or by another person in the community, that is when toes are stepped on and the willingness to work with each other disappears.
As a two-time SGA executive , I can say that it does not matter what your title is, but it certainly matters whether or not you can play nicely with others. The hardest pill to swallow is the concept that in SGA, it is imperative to check your ego at the door when needed.
As we have recently seen in the real world, a president hardly needs to listen to their team members. Recent presidents have relied on the few people loyal enough within their party who would go to any length to ensure that the almighty president would be untouched no matter how outrageous they ever will act. That mentality– reminiscent of that of President Snow in The Hunger Games– does not hold the same ground at AUP. SGA is not composed of political parties, but rather students trying to honestly and justly represent different departments and classes.
Image Credit: Unsplash/ Colin Loyd
As much fun as it is to watch SGA kill/eat itself from the inside out, it’s time to step back and recognize the realistic consequences that are a result of this behavior. Instead of being an open forum in which students can freely present issues as they arise– club budgets, administrative concerns, etc– senate is a daunting gauntlet in which hashing out tensions and personal agendas are put above the well-being of the student body.
Another student, using the pseudonym Devon, said that, in SGA, “there’s always an odd man out.” In my eyes, the “odd man out” has become every single AUP student who does not have the privilege of holding a seat in the student senate. Because, at the end of the day, both executives and senators must remember that it is a privilege for them to have their positions, and that the student body that they represent may take away that privilege at any time. At the end of the day, SGA is nothing more than a student government made up of students– not politicians. The amount of tension and drama does not equate to anything of actual importance when all is said and done.
So, be it conflict management workshops, counseling, or an outright purge, SGA needs to set its ego aside and to recenter its mission around what matters: the students. Until then, every Wednesday at 12:10, C-104 will continue to serve as a low-budget production set for the latest season of House of Cards.
