The most irresistible force in the universe is an idea whose time has arrived.
In spite of its seemingly faddish nature, social networking does have the potential to improve the human condition through information distribution.
On June 15, the outgoing members of Cal State East Bay’s student government voted down a proposal to purchase a “community management system” called OrgSync for use by the student body.
Various complaints such as concerns about pricing, its usefulness to the general student body and the “political” perceptions of spending thousands of dollars of student fees on a “glorified version of Facebook.”
The editors who have contributed to the composition of this editorial, come from a variety of backgrounds and therefore have very differing views on OrgSync. Editors on The Pioneer are active in Greek life, as well as various campus clubs, come from diverse political ideologies and some will even sit on the Board of Directors for the Associated Students, Incorporated (ASI), our campus student government.
As OrgSync or social networking services will undoubtedly come up for proposed adoption in the future, we recommend that ASI consider any future proposals for “community management systems” without referencing controversies stirred up by the adoption of OrgSync-like programs on other campuses.
It is granted that members of our outgoing ASI wanted to avoid a similar situation by CSU Long Beach’s adoption of OrgSync. This move triggered a push by former and current CSU Long Beach students to recall en masse sitting student government members on the accusation of “misusing funds.”
If student government truly believes in the worth of a program it should not shirk from supporting that program in the face of possible repercussions. Board members are elected to lead and with price of leadership comes the cost of command responsibility.
Therefore we suggest that ASI reevaluate the program and adopt or reject OrgSync or an OrgSync-like program solely on the basis of benefit to the students of CSUEB rather than considerations regarding political perception.
We grant that such a social networking program as OrgSync will primarily be used by CSUEB’s Student Life and Leadership Department and not ASI per se. This undeniable fact was the second reason for the outgoing student government to reject OrgSync’s adoption.
However, we also strongly believe that our student government should invest its financial resources in programs that will nurture a much needed sense of campus life. Thus we do not believe that there is any shame or betrayal of mission for ASI to fund a program that will be primarily used by a department of this university to cater to the needs of students.
That being said, if our student government is shouldering the burden of funding this program, it should remain under the control and ownership of ASI should adoption of OrgSync or an OrgSync-like program occur. After all, it is our money—the student’s money—and primary ownership of anything purchased with student funds should remain with students.
Thus we strongly urge the incoming student government to take another look at OrgSync or at the very least put adoption of such a program to be decided by a student-wide vote.