HomeMy WebLinkAboutA011 - letter dated March 3, 2005 from GSB a•
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Memorial Union
Ames,Iowa 50011
Government of the Student Body 515 294-1585
FAX 515 294-5239
www.gsb.iastate.edu
March 3, 2005
We don't know where all the hostility came from, but we do know we don't like it.
Those who read the Des Moines Register article of March 2, "Rift between Ames, ISU
students grows," or seen the WHO-TV segment "Students Fight Back," may have been
under the impression some sort of civil war was brewing in our city. Last thing we knew,
that wasn't true.
Last week, members of the Iowa State University student body, independent of
but supported by, the Government of the Student Body, brought a petition before the
Ames City Council to reduce City Council terms from 4 years to 2 years. The petition
was met with surprise and displeasure by the City Council. The petitioners interpreted
the reaction as hostile, and came away from the meeting offended. While we believe
that's a misunderstanding, we are always personally distraught whenever one of our
constituents leaves a meeting upset. There is room for both our governments to improve
in serving our constituents. We are concerned that we as student leaders failed to help
our students through this process until after the fact. We are concerned that this is not the
first time a group of Ames citizens has left a City Council meeting feeling unrepresented.
In the spirit of One Community, we believe we can address these concerns more
quickly, and build better relations at the same time, by working through them together.
To this end, we pledge the following, and ask the City Council to do the same:
1) Continue seeking new and better ways to serve and represent our constituents.
2)Apologize for any misunderstanding created at the City Council meeting last
week,just as we now apologize for any misunderstanding created by the
petitioners. We do not expect the Council to apologize for their opposition to the
petition, just as we will not apologize for the petition being offered, but we want
to make absolutely sure everyone understands no offense was meant.
3) Continue to explore ways to increase accessibility to City Government for ALL
constituents. This is the petitioners' stated goal and whether the petition would
accomplish this or not, it is a noble goal and deserves much further discussion.
4) One of the recommendations of the Commission on Improving Community
Relations, is an annual summit of local governments. We propose the topic of the
first summit be as outlined above -how to better serve our constituents, and
increasing accessibility to our governments.
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Memorial Union
Ames,Iowa 5ooii
Government of the Student Body 515 294-1585
FAX 515 294-5239
www.gsb.iastate.edu
We have been pleased with the progress our governments have made in recent
years, and we maintain our commitment to the continued improvement of our
community. We look forward to discussing these issues with you further.
Sophia Magill
Government of the Student Body President
William Rock
Government of the Student Body Vice-President