Opinion

Volume 22, Issue 23

Grab the administration by the ear

By Carly Hawkins - Columnist

For this week, my thesis, my plea, my point is simple. I'm going to state it up front and get it out of the way. RUN FOR SOMETHING.

Student Government Association elections are coming up, and the paperwork is due this Friday to the Student Life office. Find out what you're qualified to run for, figure out where you think your talents and interests might make the biggest impact, and get it done.

I know there is a lot of resentment that festers among all groups on this campus, for a variety of reasons about a variety of issues. And that's fine. I'm really okay with it. Because in the end, the festering and the bitterness is what ultimately should boil over as a catalyst for change.

Say what you will about current or past SGAs – they have this going for them: the administration listens to them. There are always people from various segments of the campus hierarchy at their meetings. They get an article every two weeks, if not more, in this paper. If you want your issue on the agenda and on the radar of the people who can actually do something about it, being on SGA is a great way to go about it.

Now, I'm not advocating single-issue candidacy for the variety of open slots. There should be a larger goal in mind than maybe your personal one – but that at least is a starting point.

So this is my plea: follow up everything you've been taught by this university that is supposedly all about public affairs. Follow up all the complaining that you do in your blog or to your friends or at your professors with something real and meaningful. Righteous indignation as you sit back in your recliner is not good enough for this school. We're better than that.

For once, let's have an election where the winners aren't foregone conclusions. Let's have two (or more!) qualified candidates who aren't scared to run against each other – I know contested elections are a novelty as rare as a $2 bill around this campus, but let's change that. Let's get some new faces on SGA, some new faces in leadership.

We've got enough free-riders around here, the people who say that there's no point in getting involved and someone else will just take care of it for them. That, to be blunt, is crap, because it's clearly not happening when SGA is as homogenous as it's been. No one else is stepping up. It has to be you.

Sign up. Make your platform known. Run a good campaign. Some of you will get elected and some of you won't, but the process itself will be good for the dialogue among students. Don't be afraid of losing, but don't be afraid of winning, either.

For once, let's make casting a ballot this Spring actually meaningful.

That said, I'd like SGA to bear in mind that recent conversations about lowering GPA requirements for members are misguided. This is a university (a place of learning, in other words) first and a place for you to build your resume second. A 2.5 for the leaders of our campus isn't good enough, and we expect better. Go to class and do your homework; worries about what shows the Auditorium is bringing to campus or what SAC is up to are third, if not fourth or fifth, on the list.

If you can't adequately balance your coursework alongside the responsibilities of SGA, then you need to re-examine your priorities. The current 3.5 mandate may be a bit harsh – although certainly something that I hope the members of SGA are striving for – but a 2.5 is dismally low for our model student-leaders.

GPSI Spotlight
Mimi Bopeya interns with Department of Public Aid

By Adriel Ippolito- Guest Commentary

Calm, sometimes shy, but always determined, Mimi Bopeya is the eldest child in her family with 11 younger brothers and sisters. She remembers that her main goal in coming to University of Illinois at Springfield was to gain a quality education, “My parents wanted a good education for us – you know, parents want the best for their kids. I came to the U.S. in 1991 with my brother, just the two of us. After that, there was a civil war in my country.”

Bopeya became a graduate student in the MBA program at UIS and began her GPSI internship with Illinois Department of Public Aid in August 2003. In the second year of her internship, Bopeya took time from her internship to care for her new baby, Shawn Michael.

Bopeya recalls this period of her internship as personally challenging, “As a GPSI intern, although I felt very comfortable with my duties at IDPA from the beginning, I experienced a personal challenge because I was pregnant. Getting pregnant, getting insurance, trying to figure it all out was a challenge. At one point I was afraid that I would not be able to continue as a GPSI intern.”

Bopeya's excellent work history at IDPA held her in good stead. Through the support of her IDPA supervisor and approval of GPSI Director Kim Hayden, Bopeya was able to maintain her status as a GPSI intern.

Bopeya, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa , heard about the GPSI program when she came to UIS as an undergraduate in the business administration program. A friend encouraged her to apply and Bopeya took her advice. Bopeya assists with Medicare Provider recovery for IDPA and with accounting and statistical reports to upper management.

“We work with Medicaid and insurance companies. My undergraduate degree in business administration and the accounting classes I had were helpful. It's been a good experience and I definitely think it will apply to my future career goals. I'm going to graduate soon and I'm looking for a job. One of the positions I'm interested in requires experience in third party liability, and I already have the experience,” says Bopeya.

Bopeya is enthusiastic about her coworkers and supervisor at IDPA, “I have a wonderful supervisor, Brenda Minder. One of my coworkers does very much the same thing that I do and helped me understand the system. She was very patient and made me feel comfortable, not afraid to ask questions. I think the most significant thing I've gotten out of my GPSI internship is the hands-on experience. The fact that I have experience in my field in the professional world is a plus. I feel this is very important to my career.”

Bopeya describes herself as a steadfast and faith-based person. “I am very strong-minded and very determined. Some of my friends tell me I'm stubborn. Perhaps it's the other side of the determination! And I always have faith. Maybe it's because I'm a Christian and believe that with God everything is possible. My faith is like a base, a foundation to help me get where I'm going.”

If you're thinking of attending graduate school, UIS has 19 outstanding graduate programs. If you'd like to learn more about graduate internship opportunities, visit the Graduate Public Service Internship office, located in PAC 514. The GPSI staff is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Call 217/206-6158 or visit the Graduate Intern Program website at http://gpsi.uis.edu for an online application. Stop by the Graduate Intern Program to learn more!

'The Vagina Monologues' a huge success

By Candi Clouse - Guest Commentary

To The Campus Community-

Recently, the Women's Issues Caucus presented “The Vagina Monologues” in conjunction with V-Day events. It was am amazing success as we joined over 700 colleges and universities nationwide who participated in the College Campaign.

The event benefited Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault, Sojourn Shelter, the Women's Issues Caucus and Operation Women's Freedom in Iraq . Almost 250 attended the performance, which set a record for a student event in the Studio Theater. Estimates show that half of the audience was comprised of UIS students, faculty and staff.

While we are still awaiting final figures from the auditorium, early indications show that we raised over $3,000 for the four groups!

Cast members have received wonderful feedback about their participation. However, our success would not have been possible without the support of several individuals and entities.

First, we must thank our media sponsor, The Illinois Times , for their tremendous coverage. Secondly, we must thank our own school newspaper, The Journal , for the articles, cartoons, photos and ads which sparked interest in our show.

We must also thank the Women's Center and the Women's Studies program for their support. Additionally, we must thank UIS Housing and Residential Life and the ICCB as their monetary support provided a marvelous reception where the audience and cast members could interact after the show.

Thank you to all the students who assisted behind the scenes- especially Reina Juarez, Ching Lin and Tricia Bennett. And we must thank our stage manager, Natalia Vera. The show would not have been possible without your hard work and energy.

On a more personal note, I must thank all of the actresses for their incredible performances. Each of you made this last major project very special to me. I will never forget this journey that we went on. My hope is that V-Day will continue at UIS in the future.

Finally, thank you to the entire campus community for your support. By working together to raise awareness, we can end violence against women and girls.

Candi Clouse

President, Women's Issues Caucus

UIS- WIC V-Day College Campaign Coordinator