Student leaders define GPA standards

March 9, 2009 by Haley Etchison 

Poorly defined rules lead to closer watch on grades

In response to controversy surrounding the failure of a number of directors and senators to meet GPA standards in their grades for the fall semester, three committees and the Senate have been working to clarify the rules regarding GPA requirements for serving in student government.

At the March 2 meeting, the Senate approved a bylaw that requires all CSUN representatives to maintain good standing with their respective colleges on a semester-by-semester basis to be eligible for full benefits and responsibilities in the government.

“This is to make sure if CSUN finds discrepancies with anyone’s grade there is no contradiction in the constitution,” said Sen. Victor Barragan (sciences), chair of the Bylaws committee at their meeting Friday.

Sen. Sally Wong (business), a member of Barragan’s committee, explained the inconsistencies of the old system. “Every college has a different GPA requirement but on our application it says 2.5,” she said.

Wong’s own Constitutional Revisions Committee has also spent time making changes to CSUN policy. While a bylaw establishes rules for the current representatives, a constitutional revision is required to make the new policy applicable to future Senates.

Le Shelle Perez is chair of the Rules and Ethics Committee, which reviewed the conflict over GPA requirements. She explained why more clearly defined rules were necessary.

“We’ve had instances in the past where people got away with things because the constitution and bylaws were not clear enough,” she said. “We want to make sure there are no loopholes.” Perez went on to say that she and her colleagues want to set a precedent for future cases of infraction on academic standards in CSUN, mentioning that no record existed before this year’s controversy on which to base a decision.

Perez explained why she feels it is important for student representatives to succeed in the classroom.

“I think it’s important because people look up to you,” she said. ‘We’re setting an example and we want UNLV to look good.”

In addition to being paid for each Monday meeting, CSUN representatives are paid the cost of six credits by a waiver. Perez said, “It’s not really fair to get paid six credits and fail.”

“If there are senators doing more work than others but getting the same credit, that’s not fair.”

Senior music major Andy Kim said he would feel upset if he learned his representatives had not met CSUN’s academic requirements.

“I think anyone who’s in that position should at least meet GPA requirements,” he said. “That seems like a bare minimum.”

Freshman Anthony Diaz, also a student in the college of fine arts, said, “I hope they know what they’re doing. They’re given that GPA requirement for a reason. It’s to make sure they have the brains to do their job.”

Chanda Decristoforo, a freshman business student, took a different view. “I think as long as they have a good feel for what the student body thinks it shouldn’t matter a whole lot,” she said.

Dani Golan is a senior in university studies. His Greek organization’s academic standards are similar to CSUN’s new requirements. Those who fail to meet expectations do not immediately lose their standing, but they do have to show work toward improvement.

“When people fall under the GPA requirement we set study hours and tutoring with another brother that’s doing well,” Golan explained. Members of his organization whose grades are suffering are required to log hours in the library.

Golan thinks CSUN representatives should be held to academic standards as well. “If you’re in that position you’re setting an example for others to do well in school,” he said. “If you’re not doing well, what kind of example are you setting?”