There’s more than one in a committee

Wednesday, October 22, 1997

There’s more than one in a committee

EDITORIAL Finance Committee’s decision-making power shouldn’t be
entrusted to a single person

Government is not a one-man show. Responsibilities must be
delegated to several different people to create a better balance of
power and make sure no one does anything self-serving or
dishonest.

Already four weeks into Fall Quarter, just one person sits on
the USAC Finance Committee. Chair Robert Rhoan currently has all
the financial decision-making power to himself.

This is a problem because the only thing that holds his right
hand accountable is his left hand.

For example, the chair has the authority to issue checks of up
to $350 to student groups. This power rests solely in the chair,
and is not subject to council approval. It makes for possible
mishandling of funds.

The problem at hand, though, is that the council appointments
are late. In the past years, the committee chair, who is appointed
by the USAC president, has chosen his council members in the
summer, usually a couple weeks before the quarter begins. However,
largely due to illness, the appointments have not yet been
made.

The chair also has the power, with the approval of the
committee, to appoint a vice chair, who takes over operations when
the chair is unable to fulfill his duties. There still is no vice
chair. So the committee chair has no one for backup if he should be
unable to perform his duties, such as appointing committee
members.

The Finance Committee, when operating at full capacity, is
composed of five students. Its responsibilities include reviewing
and overseeing all budgets which deal with USAC funds. It’s an
important role – one which should not be placed in a single
person’s hands.

Under normal operations, financial matters are put to a vote
within the committee, but since there is no one in the group
presently besides Rhoan, he is the sole decision-maker.

Perhaps the USAC needs to sit down and fix the bugs in the
constitution in order to ensure that committees are never composed
of just one person. The USAC president should select the vice chair
at the same time the chair is chosen so that he can take over in
any emergency situations.

The sole committee chair should not be allowed to take all
matters into his own hands at all times. Certain incidents may
arise where he cannot serve his duties. If the vice chair was
already selected, he could easily step in if the position needed to
be filled.

Rather than waiting for the fall, the appointments should be
made in May or June when the new USAC officers are inaugurated.

Though the summer may be slower in terms of USAC and
student-body activity, financial decisions still need to be made.
And the chair normally sits alone. That’s a whole additional
quarter where the chair is given total control — a whole
additional quarter where power is unchecked.

The USAC should take a look at its existing bylaws and make
changes to deal with problems which may arise in the future because
of its shaky committee structure.

The committee needs members from the beginning of the new office
term in June. Waiting for Fall Quarter to appoint members may be
tradition, but it’s one worth breaking.

And someone needs to keep a closer eye on the one man writing
those checks. One politician cannot be entrusted to take on roles
which should be handled by committees.