In the last Argus, Adit Shah wrote that the WSA is a fundamentally broken institution. As a member of the WSA for the past three years, I have seen its successes and failures very clearly. Since I have been here, the WSA has absolutely failed to communicate its successes to the student body. At some members’ insistence, including my own, we started an Argus column last year to improve communication. However, most articles were about tangential issues only, failing to address the most fundamental student concerns. Next year, I hope to use the WSA’s relationship with the Argus to much greater benefit. I will propose an ambitious agenda at the very beginning of the year, and publicize it in the Argus. We will keep the student body updated on a regular basis as the year progresses, whether we succeed or suffer setbacks. The WSA has actually been successful on a number of key issues over the last year or so, including the advent of late night dining, double beds in senior houses, a new registration system, keeping summer storage on campus, the advent of the RIDE service, and finally preparing a variation of the gender neutral housing policy to be implemented next year. Many non-EC members, including myself, have been instrumental in these successes. Students must be made aware of accomplishments like these. I agree with Adit that we need to be much more transparent, but we can do so without undermining the foundation that we have built.
We must be more assertive, open, and inclusive next year. I believe that I have the experience to get it done.
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