By AMIE AMEZCUA
amie@du2.byu.edu
When students looked around for a clock in the Cougareat to find out what time it was, they couldn't find one. When they complained, they were told to take it up with SAC, the Student Advisory Council of BYUSA, and they got their clock. While some may say that was an easy problem to solve, SAC representatives do deal with more complex issues. But the problem is many students do not know what SAC does.
Blake Marston, 22, a sophomore from Dana Point, Calif., majoring in business, said he was unaware that SAC existed.
SAC officers are quick to admit that many students have no idea what the organization is.
'We are aware that the average student at BYU does not know what SAC is. SAC is the voice between the student body and the administration. Our biggest concern is the lack of communication between the students and the SAC council,' said Dayna K. Baglow, SAC secretary.
Dan Shoeni, one of the vice presidents of BYUSA and chair of SAC, said they are trying to publicize SAC through such things as brochures and refrigerator magnetsin an effort to make a lasting impression.
'We believe that will be more effective than some big publicity scheme that will soon be forgotten,' Shoeni said.
Erica Sanofsky, a freshman SAC representative from Agoura Hills, Calif., is working on a proposal that would make SAC more well-known among freshmen.
Sanofsky is hoping in the next few weeks to have an icon on Route Y where students will be able to write their thoughts and concerns directly to SAC. Baglow said this will let SAC know what students need and help them respond more quickly.
SAC is made up of two representatives from each college, representatives from special interest groups, other faiths, freshmen and international students. These representatives make up five different committees in SAC which a BYUSA executive director oversees.
The two representatives from each college are appointed by the dean of that college and are sent to represent the issues students in that college face.
The representatives are aware of the student concerns in their college, Baglow said. The representatives are required to attend other meetings on their individual university councils to discuss the issues of the students.
Students who have a concern may take it to SAC. SAC will then come up with a proposal to resolve that issue.
Chaz Hales, a junior from Las Vegas majoring in electrical engineering, went to SAC with a problem with a landlord in off-campus housing last summer. He said he was told they would research the concern, but he has not heard back.
Since SAC replaces its representatives and each position every year, training the representatives takes up a majority of the time for the first few months of the fall semester.
'We let everyone get their feet wet and trained in the first two months,' Baglow said.
According to BYUSA President Brian Bowers and Vice President Karen Duffin, the training the students receive is necessary.
'The things that they learn are important ... like taking an issue to the right avenues and how to resolve an issue,' Bowers said.
'They need to know how to be effective,' Duffin said.
Anytime a proposal is brought to SAC, it has a number of channels in the approval process. Once proposed at a SAC meeting, the issue is assigned to a committee which researches it. Then it is brought back up to SAC as a proposal with some solid solutions to the issue. It is then voted on by SAC. Proposals must receive a two-thirds majority to pass.
Representatives are the only ones that may vote on a proposal. The BYUSA officers are not a part of the vote. If approved, the proposal is reviewed by Brian Bowers and from him it goes to the appropriate channels. These can vary from the dean of student life, to the First Presidency.
The university administration reviews many of the issues that come to SAC. The representatives of SAC work very closely with the administrators. Baglow said this relationship has improved greatly in the past two years.
'We have more respect from the administration because we are doing more under better leadership, and we are accomplishing things and making the administration notice us,' Baglow said.
Vice President of Students Alton Wade said President Bateman asked for a full report of SAC issues and asked different members of his council to research and report their findings.
'We will go at a drop of a hat and take whatever time they (SAC) want us there ... to do whatever it is they want us to do,' Wade said.
Wade said he thinks that students need to take advantage of SAC.
'As far as I am concerned, if students don't take advantage of their SAC representatives, it is their fault,' Wade said.
Some of the recent issues SAC has been working on and researching are widening some campus sidewalks, the controversy surrounding closing the south entrance doors of the Harold B. Lee Library and getting more courtesy phones in certain buildings.
SAC meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. in 3228 ELWC. All students are welcome to attend.