For those familiar with U.S. government, the administrative structure of Student Council may seem somewhat strange. Directly below the Council president are two positions that function coequally as second-in-command - the vice president for administration and the vice president for organizations. Each of these offices has substantial and well-defined responsibilities, with the VPA functioning as Council's chief operations officer and the VPO handling appropriations and outreach to the University's contracted independent organizations. Thus, when students cast their votes next week for VPA and VPO they should consider which candidates are best suited to carrying out the specific duties of each position, as well as which will work best within the Council as a whole. With this in mind, the Managing Board endorses second-year College student Mathias Wondwosen for the office of VPA.
Wondwosen has acknowledged that much of his work as VPA would be internal to Council. He is more than qualified, however, to undertake those behind-the-scenes tasks that are essential to Council's operations. Having done protocol work with both the African Union and the United Nations, Wondwosen possesses a strong background in the bureaucratic maneuvering that is central to filling the role of VPA. Moreover, he has not been shy about admitting the past shortcomings of Council in this particular respect. In a recent interview, Wondwosen mentioned a pothole repair project at Lambeth Field Apartments in which he was involved as a junior member of Council. The project, which was initiated following a complaint on Speak Up UVA, took a year to be completed and Wondwosen said that in the process, "I learned how inefficient [Council] could be."
Wondwosen said he hopes to address the problem of inefficiency by streamlining the project assignment process within Council. In particular, he would set time limits on the assignment of tasks so committees no longer spend weeks or even months determining under whose jurisdiction an issue falls. He also would facilitate the process of project assignment by drawing up more detailed guidelines for each committee with regard to its area of responsibility.
Although his primary focus will be on internal administrative duties, Wondwosen also expressed a desire to help improve the University's external relations with the broader Charlottesville community. He said this would give students a better idea of how others in the community view the University, but more practically it would improve the prospects of joint endeavors with Charlottesville residents and government leaders. Wondwosen cited his goal of extending blue lights to Rugby Road as one project that would benefit from increased community engagement. Most impressively, he already has initiated this process by meeting with Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris to discuss the logistics of promoting student safety in off-Grounds areas.
Wondwosen's opponent, second-year College student Whit Hunter, has centered his campaign around the idea of soliciting increased feedback from students about the projects Council must undertake. Unfortunately, his overarching theme of student outreach is less relevant to being a successful VPA than are Wondwosen's ideas for procedural reform and his pursuit of collaboration with the Charlottesville community.
The Managing Board is unable to endorse a VPO candidate because of a conflict of interest. Students should be aware of the position's significance, however. The VPO handles more than $700,000 worth of appropriations requests for the University's CIOs, and whichever candidate is elected must reform the process whereby clubs request and receive funds. Furthermore, the new VPO should continue to seek ways to increase the amount of money available for club sports.
Together, these two officers will provide vital support to the Council president throughout the coming year. Students must select candidates who will be able to mesh with Council and effectively execute some of its most important functions.
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