At Sunday's DePauw Student Government executive meeting, a proposal that would allow for financial compensation for executive members of DSG was introduced as a point of conversation for the future. The proposed payments would begin next semester and would allot funding from the allocations board to pay executive members. The actual amount has not been decided and from what we understand, the proposal has both supporters and detractors.
In this issue's front page story, Student Body President Sara Scully and Vice President Mark Fadel said that the time commitment to DSG causes conflicts with potential work study opportunities or outside jobs. The chief reasoning behind the proposal is that adding a little bit of cash to the position will attract more and better candidates who might have been previously deterred from running.
This editorial board had two immediate reactions.
One: is a candidate who runs for the position because of the compensation better than the one who runs knowing there would be none?
Two: the amount of money that would be required to equal the pay of a work study position would be far higher in comparison to what we're certain the executive board is actually expecting.
If, for example, on average, a DSG executive member spends an additional 20 hours of his or her week with work concerning student government, they would be making $145 a week based on the work-study $7.25 per hour DePauw standard.
Now we are not assuming that DSG executive members that are in support of this proposal are suggesting that future executive members receive the same amount as a minimum wage position. The reality is that the dollar amount would be much smaller. So how could offering a small amount of money -- that would probably serve more as a bonus to the amount of work put in -- actually convince students who are strapped for cash to volunteer.
We understand that there is a massive amount of work that goes into holding and executing student government, and clearly, a little bit of cash for that effort would be nice. We should clarify here that the members of this editorial board, as well as section editors, do receive some compensation for our work, but that money does not come from the university or student funds. And it is not our primary reason for producing the publication we love. So we pose this question to DePauw Student Government executive members, as corny as it may sound: isn't the opportunity to represent the student body of the university we love enough?
If DePauw Student Govenment is searching for compensation, there are other options that could be explored. Perhaps course credit is a good alternative.
Or, if money is allotted to executives, a stronger, more stringent system of checks and balances from the student body should be applied. If student government executives are going to be paid, then students should have a more concentrated effort on ensuring that executives are upholding the students' wants and needs.
Don't worry about the extra cash right now. The real reward --the leadership skills fostered through DSG as well as the résumé boost -- will come later.