International GovernmentStudent

Conference

By Rose Jeremie From February 20 through 22, the JCU Student Government hosted its Second Annual International Student Government Conference (ISGC), bringing together a diverse group of English-speaking universities in Eu-rope and the Middle East to discuss how to improve their institutions. Participating universities included American University of Kuwait, American University in Bulgaria, Franklin College in Switzerland, Glion Institute of Higher Education, Les Roches International School, and the American University of Rome.  As stated on the ISGC website, “the primary focus of the Interna-tional Student Government Confer-ence is to foster methods of coopera-tion among the student governments of each representative institution.” The ISGC covered a variety of topics including the role of student gov-ernment, sustaining progress ac-complished by student government, incentives and team-building within student organizations, and working for their student constituency.  The conference had the foremost American perspective on student

Volume I Issue IIFebruary 20-22, 2009

government as head of the American Student Government Association, Butch Oxendine spoke to students via Skype. Mr. Oxendine said that the primary role student governments should take is advocating for student issues. He stressed that in order for student governments to help make their universities a better place, they have to share the concerns their fel-low students have with the trustees and the administration. He also em-phasized the importance of student governments as “the liaison between the administration and the students,” and recognition from both sides is essential for a progressive student government organization.  JCU Business Professor Pietro Paganini delivered a motivational speech during the opening ceremony. He highlighted the concept that student government leaders are the leaders of today. Student govern-ment is a landmark organization because of its ability to demonstrate motivation, passion and commit-ment. He said student government members should make it so students understand that they exist first and foremost to serve the needs of the

student body. Student governments are the primary medium for stu-dent change and they must be taken advantage of in order to bring about that change.

 The conference demonstrated the capacity of student governments to enter into cross-cultural borders for the promotion of the interest of all students. President Franco Pavoncello summarized the confer-ence very well when he stated that “this International Student Govern-ment Conference allows for active members to perfect change, become true participants of their university, illustrate the value of grass-roots or-ganization and highlight the value of student organizations in general.”

In this Issue

Student Government Purposepg. 2

ISGC

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Final shot of the day, everyone gathers together for a photo op.

2nd Annual ISGC Opening Ceremony

The Power of Dialogue in Uniting Student Leaders Abroad

Consitution Workshop on pg.3

Meet the Delegates on pg.5

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Our Purpose As Student GovernmentBy Rose Jeremie

The first topic addressed by Aliki Karagiannis, explored the role of student government and the limitations or challenges they face operating as American universities abroad. In exploring the formal and informal role of student governments in small academic institutions, the session came to a general consensus that student governments must take on a variety of issues. They must be purpose driven, and therefore exist as partners with other administrative units working towards advocating for students rights and the greater well-being of the university. They must establish their legitimacy through active participation and recognition on the part of the students. Nevertheless, collaboration with the administration is crucial to achieving the main purpose of student government; advocating for the rights of students.

The session addressed issues like integrating students, greater student involvement, improving the relationship between administrators and student government,

accomplishing goals and establishing a signature program. The American University in Bulgaria provided an insightful way to tackle the problems encountered between short term and long term goals. They proposed that student governments should publish the agenda for each year and throughout the year students can add to the agenda. Student governments would follow

the agenda throughout their given term and if certain programs were not implemented, they would pass on these programs to the incoming government. The representative from the American College of Greece elaborated on the possibilities of implementing a signature program. Programs, for example benefits students by securing cheaper books and meals from local businesses. This type of program provides a larger market for

local businesses while simultaneously supporting the needs of the students.

In the end, the first session on the role and purpose of tudent government addressed a variety of complicated topics. Nonetheless, the discussion clarified many issues and initiated conversation about solving the problems faced by student governments of American universities abroad.

February 20-22,2009

Professor Raymond Shaw gave an insightful lecture on public relations and working for your constituency. He presented on the idea that student governments are not just a governing body, but an institute of student leaders. According to Shaw, leaders need to be transformational. In addition, Shaw laid out the fundamental characteristics for a transformational and charismatic leader. A transformational leader requires the following:

Working for Your Constituency

1. Emotive intelligence: self awareness, the ability to recognize and understand your moods and emotions.

2. Self-Regulation: the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses.

3. Motivation: passion for your work

4. Empathy: the ability to understand the emotional make-up of other people.

5. Social Skills: proficiency in managing relations and building networks.

6. Trust: know yourself and colleagues. Show that the results and aims are the same, similarities are important, be tolerant of risks, be well-adjusted, secure, capable, and listen.

Motivation is fundamental, and Shaw provides John Hunt’s view of motivation as anything that brings comfort, structure, relationships, recognition status, power, autonomy, creativity or growth. “If you know what is turning him on, then you know how to treat him.”

The session continued on to discuss the possibility of sharing governance within the university. This idea is based on the assumption that the students are the stakeholders. Student government advocates for the interests of the student body by becoming the link that connects students, organizations and the administration. In keeping with this assumption, student government needs to practice effective communication, target the entire university community, involve student organizations, focus on servant leadership and develop its own identity.

In terms of effective communication, student government should market an open door policy to students. It needs to empower the student body and convince them to get involved within the university. The best way to accomplish this is by surveying the student body and advertising around campus. When doing this, the IMPACT themes must be kept in mind: Involvement, Motivation, Potential, Awareness, Contact, and Tact. Student government websites are very helpful in getting the message out there. However, this need to have up to date information, news and events, the student government officer’s and advisor’s information, contact information, the student government constitution and above all it needs to be simple and user friendly.

By Rose Jeremie

continue on pg.4

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February 20-22,2009

By Rose Jeremie

The fourth topic began with a conference call with Butch Oxendine. He provided 50 tips in order to improve student government elections. Voter turnout of the average student government elections is 15-20% in private colleges or universities. Oxendine stressed that you must have higher turnout if you want to be respected by fellow students and administrators. Ways to improve student government election turnout are to ensure that student government actually accomplishes its goals. As previously stated, student governments must address the things that matter to students.

You must have contested races if you expect students to vote. In order for this to happen, there needs to be aggressive recruitment or more diversity in candidates. The more candidates the better; achieving this is a matter of personal outreach.

Greater student government

Public Relations and Communicationturnout can be achieved by providing more poll locations, making polls a spectacle, considering the timing of elections, and expanding the number of election days.

The American College of Greece and the American University of Kuwait advocated for using online voting because it removes bias from the voting count.

In terms of poll locations, Franklin College has more than 10 voting locations available for student government elections. Franklin College discussed the idea of making polls a spectacle and thought it

helpful to use various forms of public relations to promote.

Maintaining clarity and impartiality is best achieved through the help of a supervisor of elections. John

Cabot University establishes a special election committee, American University of Rome uses their outgoing student government members, and Franklin College utilizes executive members, friends and volunteers to help supervise elections.

Timing and the number of election days are fundamental to a high voter turnout. The timing and the number of days may have a serious impact on elections.

Once a new student government body is elected, a major issue is transitioning.

Transition handbooks or manuals are the most efficient way to transfer information from one administration to the next. It is best if a transition handbook is electronic, so that it may not be lost. Aside from the handbook, former members of student government should spend some time explaining to candidates or newly elected members how to succeed within student government and within the university as a whole.

Top -Left to Right: Delegates from Franklin, Delegates from Kuwait. Bottom-Left to Right: JCU stu-dent government and Delegation from Greece and American University of Rome.

By Dario Gagliano

Two round-elections? Removal-from-office clauses and amendment committees? One would almost assume such talk would be arriving out of the halls of the Italian parliament or the US Congress! Instead, the discussion came out of the halls of John Cabot University’s Guarini Campus, from the legislature of the future: the gathering of politically-savvy students for the International Student Government Conference.

Far from being a casual meeting, the conference involved debate and serious discussion concerning the nature of student government

administration, including such concepts of “democratic legitimacy” and electoral systems for electing the executive (like a double-round system, polling stations, and electoral committees). The nature of the forum was such that it seemed to mirror in its entirety an actual debate that might occur in a Western nation on the contents within a constitution.

Kristen Mapes, president of John Cabot University’s Student Government organized the conference to allow for a brainstorming of ideas with representative of other American universities in Europe and the Middle East to improve student government efficiency and proper etiquette

when meeting with university staff on financial and activity issues. Furthermore, by the end of the final session on at 1:30 on Sunday, February 22nd, each delegation walked away satisfied, refreshed, and new ideas in order to establish good relations with their “electorate.”

Boy, if only our real politicians worked like them.!

Perhaps then we’d actually get something done.

Wouldn’t that be something?

Consitution Workshop

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Targeting the entire university community can be a challenge. Find out exactly what students want, either through surveys or word of mouth. Involving other student organizations reinforces the productive relationship. This relationship establishes a larger platform for student government to stand on and it builds trust and accountability among their constituency.

Transforming student government into an institution of servant leadership fosters both personal and institutional growth. Individual personal growth reveals a route to better serve others while empowering the community and encouraging service. Servant leadership fashions trusting relationships, commitment and confidence.

Student governments have to develop their own identity. The key is to be creative. Expand upon ideas and innovations; but always keep in mind that reliability and accountability are fundamental.

Continued Working for Constituency

Volume I Issue IIFebruary 20-22,2009

All in all, the Second International Student Government Conference was a huge accomplishment. The various student governments of American universities abroad got the rare chance to come together, sit down and discuss topics on how to make their organizations more successful.

Vincent Wood, 23 year old student government President of Les Roches International School of Hotel Management said, “SGA is a relatively new concept at our school and it was really great to hear different perspectives and ideas.”

For Michael Barrie, 22 year old student government President of Glion Institute of Higher Education,” this conference was a great unit of self measurement.”

Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement. When interviewed, most delegates considered the conference a success; they had some ideas as to how to make the conference better for next year.

Norah Al-Hilaly, the 20 year old student government president from the American University of Kuwait said, “next time we should speak more about financial budgeting, allocate more time to each topic and at the end we should come up with a resolution.” The idea of coming up with final resolutions or specific plans of implementation was a general consensus among the

delegates.

“Having discussions can only do so much, we need specific plans that we can bring back to our home university. So that in the end, we feel like we have accomplished something”, said delegates from the American University of Bulgaria.

The topics addressed were insightful, the discussions were perceptive, but the one drawback was presentation! “All of the participating delegations should be required to present”, said Skyler Yost, 21 year old Resident Representative from Franklin College.

John Cabot University student government President, Kristen Mapes issued a statement saying, “John Cabot University student government accepts any criticism and looks forward to ISGC 2010. The goal for next year will be to plan the conference with the collaboration and participation of student leaders from many American universities abroad.

Nonetheless, all of these critiques encompass the greater goal of the ISGC conference in fostering discussion on how to improve student governments of American universities abroad. With that being said, on to next year.

In Conclusion...By Rose Jeremie

ISGC 2009 Student

Government Office

John Cabot University

Via Della Lungara 233

Rome, Italy 00165

Phone:+39 06 68 19 12 55

E-mail:stugov@

johncabot.edu

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Volume I Issue IIFebruary 20-22,2009

Meet The Delegates ...

From Left to Right: Andrew Herndon, Skyler Yost, Sampson Hatziathanasiou, Dylan Lee, James Jasper, Meghan Canale, Samantha Iovino

Left to Right: Lyudmila Uzunova, Evelina Bar-onova, Arian Berdellima, Zhikica Pagovski.

Left to Right: Jawdat Khalaf, NorahAl-Hilaly, Abduslamad Marafie.

Left to Right: Vincent Wood, Lorenzo Strizzolo, Michael Barrie

Left to Right: Oliver Bailey, Alex Sexton, Ashley Mackenzy