SG Senator Hall talks change

When I first entered TAMIU years ago, I spent time as a committee chair and senator in what we then called the Student Government Association. Looking at the state of the current Student Government (they dropped “association”), it’s apparent that ours was a rough blueprint, a trial balloon. I remember attending conferences where other SGs acted like they knew something we didn’t. “Yours is the most powerless SG in the whole system,” chided a senator from the Kingsville branch with total conspiratorial confidence. With the makeover of the entire student life division circa 2004, our budget shrank, our purpose sharpened, and our labor force grew. We set our focus on advocacy, implementing the college forums and starting Rock the Vote. Turnover persisted, however, and most initiatives died in committee.But in the years since that fledgling group, some determined students have come along and kick-started the pituitary. I wanted to meet one of them, so I interviewed Matthew Hall. A political science major, Hall spent Spring ’08 on ISEP Exchange in Stockholm, Sweden, where he sat on the on the Södertörn University College Students’ Union. Herrera: Why don’t you start by introducing yourself to the students who may not know you?Hall: My name is Matthew Hall-Herrera: And I’m an alcoholic. (laughter)Hall: I’m a senator at large, and I’m currently the most tenured elected member of the senate.Herrera: What are SG’s goals for the coming year?Hall: One major one is to recruit a bureaucracy-that is, to expand the number of students serving or elected to student government. We were doing that during new student orientation. I’d say it was really successful. I’m willing to put the estimate at fifty or sixty people to be fitted out on our committees to work as a volunteer force for student government. Herrera: I know committees are where a lot of the groundwork needs to get done, but also where things tend to fall apart. Has that been your experience?Hall: I felt the same thing. I was first put in after the resignation of President Coutinio, which effectively left the student government in a bad situation as resignations or attempted impeachments tend to do. I was put in charge of the pride committee. It ended up being a committee of one. But, last year we actually went without committees effectively. We basically did things ad hoc. It gave us a lot of flexibility. Our new president, James, is a very effective executive. His agenda is to push the recreation of our standing committees, and I support that. In fact, I lobbied for and put forth into existence the international committee since our international students have always been neglected by the majority of our students. They’ve always been sort of-Herrera: On the periphery?Hall:: On the periphery. When you’re an international student as I was last semester, there’s always barriers-language, cultural, and there was no committee, no resource to deal with that [at TAMIU]. Herrera: We have the international student fair. Is that well-attended?Hall: For a school of five thousand, it’s not. Actually, this committee will also try to internationalize our home students with study abroad, international courses, events-anything that has to do with the coming together of cultures. That’s one of TAMIU’s purposes; it’s in our name.Herrera: International programs have expanded. There was a time when the complaint was that it’s only for COBA majors. But they’ve got a host of programs now.Hall: For example, I’m political science. Now, our study abroad as far as semester-long, we had fifty or so students do something over the summer. Last semester, we only had four students out of five thousand study abroad for a full semester or a year. But going back to the issue of committees, my opinion is when you have a well-established student government, and it has a large amount of volunteers, they work perfectly. Last year, student government was rebuilding itself, redefining itself, and I think the system it had was perfect for what it was doing. Now that we have more people involved, we can look at starting to get committees going again. Herrera: It’s been said that this current administration is one of the most effective ever. What earned you all that reputation?Hall: Last year we did Cover Laredo, the single largest charity drive SG does. That was created by Senator Rodolfo Morales. Another thing is building a better relationship with the administration. That’s certainly been a factor now that we’ve stabilized, come together, all three branches working in unison together and really taking to heart the fact that we were elected, not entitled to our positions. Herrera: With regards to the forums, I seem to remember a minor controversy about the amount of money spent encouraging students to attend by giving out IPods. Hall: While I’ve been in the Senate that hasn’t happened. Remember the turnover rate is rather high; it’s miraculous you have a third-term Senator. Herrera: Very.Hall: We’re really trying to stick to our budget. We allocated about a thousand dollars per college forum, but attendance was low, so we had to invest our resources elsewhere, mostly in organizational grants. But we’re thinking now that we have a stronger committee system we’ll be able to have effective forums. Herrera: What do you say to those who complain that there’s no student life at TAMIU?Hall: There’s stuff here if you’re willing to look. Is it as vibrant as I would like? No. We’re actually establishing programs to help the officers of student organizations better learn how to run things, keep accounts, organize. We’ll continue to fund organizational grants. For his part, Hall expects the current administration to hold itself to the highest standards of accountability and ethics. He also looks forward to this year’s Rock the Vote.Hall: A couple of us are already deputized [to register voters]. In fact, at freshmen orientation, we realized the demand of students wanting to register was overwhelming. The elections office is willing to deputize other SG members, so they can then register their constituencies. We may even try to register students in class. Herrera: Really?Hall: The student vote during the primary was gargantuan. One of the candidates-not to show any bias, but-Senator Barack Obama has certainly galvanized the youth vote. Herrera: What do you have to say to TAMIU students as the year begins?Hall: To the first-time freshmen: don’t be afraid. You’re going to see the amount of work in your classes, but realize that TAMIU’s not so big that you can’t be involved in your student government. Join a student organization. Join CAB, Student Ambassadors, any of the fraternities or sororities. And if you honestly feel that something’s not right, for God’s sake I entreat you to come to us. If you feel like you have a really great idea, contact us. Hall then implored me to include his personal phone number (817-798-5029) to allow students greater access to him.Hall: I take very seriously that you [students] elected me. I’m the only student, as far as I know, to ever be reelected while studying abroad, so I take this very seriously. I’m here to address any concern you have.