Read Original Story Which Prompted This Additional Response Here
Dear KnightNews and KnightNews Readers,
First and foremost, I would like to thank KnightNews for their coverage of the SGA elections, and wish them the best in their fight for “Freedom of Press.” This is a cause worth supporting; it is a central tenet of American ideology and should be fought for at the University of Central Florida – a public university with fifty thousand young Americans.
The purpose of this letter is to clarify a few points and positions that were espoused in the recent KnightNews article. It is my opinion that the article and subsequent comments appeal solely to the theatrics of sensationalized journalism. Ultimately, the tone of the article does not accurately or effectively represent my central thesis, which I will posit in just a moment. By way of clarification, I became intrigued by the operations and activities of SGA after attempting to break into their ranks and falling short time and time again (with the sole goal of being able to fish on campus).
(Editor’s note: We planned to do a whole separate article on Schumacher’s “central thesis,” regarding his allegations of wasteful salaries, but we first had to write about the violation he submitted and use those quotes related to that issue. We deemed the violation he filed more newsworthy and urgent at the time. We still have his quotes about his other “central thesis” from the interview, and will use them when we can ask SGA its side of the story this week before writing about it. Sorry for any confusion, we have not edited his letter in anyway, and we appreciate his dialogue and support on Our Fight for Free Speech).
Without a doubt, I have a vested interest in writing this letter. That being said, it is my belief that each and every student at this university shares this very same interest. Most would agree that we are all affected by the outcomes of SGA elections. Ultimately, I believe that as a student body, we need to be aware of the SGA electoral processes and recognize the detrimental consequences this system could reap upon our university. Once there is an awareness of this threat, we can quash it by creating more efficient and ethical electoral procedures. At the core of this issue, is that the SGA oversees a $14 million budget and promulgates policies, which will eventually affect every student at UCF. I welcome the opportunity to be an active part of this process, and would support the SGA creating a “blue ribbon” panel to study the current policies and make suggestions to reaching the aforementioned goal. An expected part of this process is discussion and debate.
In my three years at UCF, I have seen how elections can be swayed by false promises, appealing signs and infinite slices of pizza. Having campaigned for multiple candidates, not once have I been asked about an issue, rather the most common question asked by prospective voters is, “Do you have any pizza left?” It is this fact that propels my advocation for change. SGA is proud to have nearly 10% of the student body vote in a presidential election. While this is an admirable statistic, it is also problematic. I would surmise that 90% of those students voted because of a slice of pizza, a t-shirt, or to put an end the pressure and harassment to vote. Additionally, the current election process favors those with the deepest pocketbooks and largest pledge classes, not those best suited for being responsible of a $14 million budget.
After conversing with friends and fellow students about the recently concluded election, I decided to take a public stand against our current system. My election law violation complaint was filed not only to draw attention to this flawed system but to also question if current practices are even legal. It is my belief that the use of the WiFi was unethical and should be studied in greater depth. However, my complaint was filed to shed light on a troublesome process at our school. Campaigns at every level have regulations surrounding spending, bribery, and ethical practices. UCF should be no different, and there are simple solutions to our problems. One of the biggest issues surrounding campaign finance could be settled by following the $1,000 campaign spending limit, which is enforced at The George Washington University, one of the most expensive universities in the country.
Another major problem rests within the commission that oversees SGA elections. Nine students are paid roughly $10 an hour for any duration up to six weeks. They are funded by student ASF monies and are appointed by SGA members. They are responsible for “regulating” elections and “tabulating” the online results of the three-day contest. Moreover, almost all violation rulings rendered by the commission are appealed to the unpaid SGA Judicial board, essentially making the commission’s opinion worthless. I believe this commission promotes cronyism and is in need of major reform.
With these facts in mind, we can properly frame our discussion on reform. It is imperative that we work together as a student body to fix a broken system. This issue is time sensitive and should be afforded the resources necessary to make change. I trust the new leaders of SGA to reform the system before the next election cycle. I also trust our SGA leaders to clean up the waste in ASF funding to students who occupy unneeded positions. Simultaneously, I implore students and their organizations to demand a better system where students are made aware of the real issues within SGA.
In response to charges that I was attempting a Machiavellian coup seeking to overthrow SGA, I would counter with the words of a great man, General Colin Powell. He is a man who is revered for many things, and it is this quote that motivates my efforts: “Don’t be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their own backyard.”
I never had intentions of conducting a hostile takeover of SGA and I believe that Mr. Kilbride has the potential to be a great president who will carry our university in the right direction. To those of you who disagree with my goals or methods in seeking change, I say fair enough. What I would ask is that your disagreement does not devolve into grandstanding and diverting attention from an important issue. Instead of roadblocking, why not offer your own solution and we can have an honest and open discussion?
At the core of this sensationalized KnightNews story is the fact that our current system is broken, and more seriously, it fosters an injurious affront to our uniquely American notion of democracy. We are a campus of fifty thousand young Americans who are now or one day will be voters, taxpayers, soldiers and perhaps elected officials. Let us begin the process of change and work for a clear, concise, ethical and open electoral process. Go Knights! And may God continue to bless the United States of America.
Respectfully,
S. Kyle Schumacher
Proud UCF Knight
