This is the second installment of The Spectrum's mid-year evaluation of SA. Part one focused on finances, SUNY SA, and clubs. Today's report card considers SA's executive administration, the legislature itself and entertainment.
Executive administration: B-
The mythical North Campus student health center is where the current SA executive board is clearly putting its focus this semester. It's not their fault that the center didn't materialize when it was supposed to this past fall, but President Dela Yador and Vice President Sonia Kang are planning to push hard for the health center's opening. This will be the first real test of their campaign plan to improve SA-UB administration relations beyond a symbolic level. The effort to make this happen is noble, but it's the result that's lacking.
Allegations of bribery against Treasurer Mazin Kased are approaching a one-year anniversary with no resolution. True or not, these charges have implications too serious to have been ignored for 10 months. Though last year's SA administration dropped the ball by not deciding on the charges before graduation, this year's has, through inaction, assumed a position that seems to be a vague admission of guilt. Even if Kased is cleared of all charges, SA has put themselves in a credibility hole, particularly now that outside representatives have recently begun investigations into the case.
Yador and Kang successfully started the online syllabus program -- pushed hard by SA executives -- and the return of SATV. Few might be watching now, but the medium has promise and should catch on.
Entertainment: A-
A few years ago, Fall and Spring Fests were unfocused genre mash-ups, touching everything, succeeding with nothing. SA has done a good job in focusing the concerts, choosing top-notch entertainment in Kanye West for this most recent Fall Fest. West was the most talked about entertainer in the land when he arrived, with a full-blown stage show that was second to none. The concert was an unbridled success, and SA deserves accolades for making it happen.
The "Caution Tour" brought another big-name hip-hop show to UB and provided another outlet for fans. This was especially important because SA spent relatively little for a second arena concert.
Comedy acts are always hit-or-miss, and though Charlie Murphy proved to be weak, booking him generated excitement. He performed to a packed house and had opening acts that more than made up for his lackluster performance. Spring's rock-themed lineup should be even better just as successful, if not more so.
Legislature: C
The current members of the SA Senate ran unopposed in the last election cycle and seem to have grown complacent in their positions. One of their main functions is overseeing the distribution of funding to clubs, which occurs in the beginning of the fall semester. They've been diligent in that respect, but they've unfortunately accomplished little else. One of the problems they claimed to focus on -- parking -- found no movement towards any change whatsoever. They also worked to implement extended hours at Alumni Arena fitness centers, but that program has not returned this semester. Senate Chair Viqar Hussain is a capable leader, but he somehow has to help the Senate's resolutions gain permanence.
The SA Assembly is nearly always the weakest body within SA, and this year has been no different. It's not Assembly spokesman Hassan Shibly's fault -- he, like Hussain, is a capable leader -- but the Assembly struggles to even have the level of attendance necessary to make any impact, and it's pull outside SA is weak. Passing ineffectual resolutions leave this group with little lastin
