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Debate continues in the Student Government Association on the creation of a House of Student Representatives which would give more students the opportunity to have their voices heard in the decision-making process at UTEP.
"I hear debates that go on and the way I've seen debates, each group will have representatives on different issues similar to the House of Representatives in the U.S. and I think it's a good step to move the Senate and the organizations together," said Russell Booth, attorney general of SGA and Chairman of the College Republicans organization.
In September, SGA proposed the creation of a House of Representatives to be ready by October, but discussion continues and implementing the new house has been postponed until Spring 2010.
Some student organizations are not fully aware of the House of Student Representatives.
"I've known about it but I haven't seen any posters or promotion for it," Jesus Smith, senior psychology major and Rainbow Miner Initiative intern said. "I'm glad SGA is taking charge in creating a new voice that will definitely benefit organizations and students of UTEP."
The framework is still taking hold in weekly SGA Student Organization Council Committee meetings deciding what kind of guidelines and framework the participation of students will actually consist of.
"The House of Student Representatives has changed to become a committee called the Student Organization Council," said Ricky Nichols, SGA's vice-president of internal affairs.
Nichols said SGA has met with different departments such as the Student Development Center, vice-president of student affairs and the dean of students. They have discussed how the foundation of the new committee will be built and what it will ultimately consist of.
Nichols said the committee members have been looking into the House of Representatives at other universities such as Texas Christian University and the Student Organization Representative Council at Texas Tech University.
"As of right now, I have been researching the structure of these two models that have the potential for SOCC to replicate," said SGA Senator Rosemary Prieto, who is one of the committee members. "However, as I look into these other models I am keeping in mind that the structure we decide upon must be well suited for UTEP and its already established student involvement departments."
Nichols also said the general proposal must develop a better sense of guidelines, procedures, duties and responsibilities, much like a constitution to set the foundation.
Senator committee members have suggested creating guidelines and having them ready to present to the SDC by the start of the Spring 2010.
"We renamed the council because we are trying to see how the framework will go to ultimately build it to an actual House of Student Representatives," Nichols said.
The SGA wants to create a base to have an idea of how many students will actually participate and then eventually begin with the process of implementing an actual House of Representatives.
"I think it's a really good idea to create the committee, because there is a wider variety of opinions from students instead of those that stand out because the Senate has common characteristics and cannot represent all of the students at UTEP," Adan Anchondo, member of UTEP's Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and freshman electrical engineering major.
Students will have the opportunity to provide feedback to the committees and SGA would like for organizations to come forth and participate in the Senate.
"We need the support of student organizations and hopefully, with their effort, we will create this House of Student Representatives," Nichols said.
Beatriz A. Castañeda may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
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