Paying student government officials

About a month ago, Helen Wood reflected the job outgoing ASG President Jon Webber has done. Wood, who serves as the Center for Student Involvement director and Associated Student Government adviser, expressed how content she was with Webber’s tenure. But having worked with six previous Northwestern ASG presidents, she said she’s always impressed with the people that come in and take up the laborious job.

Webber, a Weinberg senior, didn’t expect the presidency to consume so much of his time. On top of trying to fulfill his campaign promises, Webber soon learned he was always on the job – whether it be meetings or e-mails, whether it be with administrators or his constituents.

“It takes a lot of energy, and it takes a lot of time,” Wood said. “The job is a lonely one. You’re taking a full-time job without pay.”

The fact is, about 80 percent of private universities compensate their student government officers with some sort of stipend or scholarship, according to Executive Director Butch Oxendine of the American Student Government Association, which compiles data on student governments nationwide.

Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, gives its Student Government Association president about $5,000 a year, which Oxendine said adds up to "pennies on the hour" considering the 40 plus number of hours she puts in per week. Northeastern University in Boston gives its Student Government Association a full tuition waiver and meal plan that adds up to about $24,000.

Compensation opens up the playing field because "otherwise, you just have rich kids running (because) it limits the pool you can draw from," Oxedine said. Many students might not be able to run for their student government because the time commitment would not allow them to work.

Oxendine said compensation for being active in one's student government is about the equivalent of athletes getting scholarships or newspaper staff members getting stipends. The Daily does offer small stipends to staff members who work at least twice a night.


—ALICE TRUONG

A look into Webber's presidency

After hundreds of meetings with students, administrators or a combination of all of the above, Jonathan Webber can finally look forward to some free time. However, his time in politics is not over as he plans to assist his 24-year-old brother’s Missouri state representative campaign during Spring Quarter.

As part of finishing his tenure, the lame duck Associated Student Government president has been tying up loose ends by re-examining campus publicity guidelines, proposing an ASG budget half of last year’s and looking to change elements of A-status funding.

“I’ve learned a huge amount,” the Weinberg senior said. “I learned a lot about time management. I’ve failed at time management over and over again, but hopefully I’ve gotten a bit close to being better.”

A year ago, when he started thinking about running for this position, he didn’t realize just how much time the role would demand.

He came into the presidency with 10 projects he promised he would finish in less than a month. Even after that month, his plate remains full. His inbox always has e-mails from a variety of students who want to see some aspect of Northwestern changed. He is always scheduled to meet with students, fellow ASG members and administrators to talk about a new initiative or a new proposal. Webber would estimate spending about 20 hours of his week just on fulfilling the standard duties of ASG president. Any time spent on special projects would be in addition to those 20 hours.

For example, during Fall Quarter, Webber brought together student leaders and administrators to create a Student-Community Relations Task Force to discuss solutions for the increasing number of students, especially freshmen, in the hospital for alcohol-related reasons.

“That report was very well-done,” Vice President for Student Affairs William Banis said. “Jon has been very balanced and fair as a student advocate. He has been deliberate in gathering information on issues and doing his research.”

During his first quarter as president, Webber advocated for student theater groups, securing funding from the School of Communication, Norris University Center and ASG for a $20,000 investment in dimmer packs to ensure theater groups wouldn’t have to continue spending money renting them. Because funding is done on a yearly basis, securing funding for such lighting was an obstacle because of the cost.

“These dimmer packs will help for 25 years,” Communication junior Rebecca Stevens said. “He wasn’t advocating for student theater because he liked student theater better or thought we deserved more funding. What he was standing up and talking about was a different way to look at funding.”

But when Webber needs to take a break from his many responsibilities, he goes to the Center for Student Involvement office to chat with ASG Adviser Helen Wood for 20 to 30 hours per week.

“She’s one of my closest friends,” he said. “I rely on her literally every day of the year.”

Wood, who has worked with six NU ASG presidents, said Webber was willing to work behind the scenes for issues that affect students and not to bask in the glory of having his name in the newspaper.

“The job is a lonely one. You’re taking a full-time job without pay,” she said. “It takes a lot of energy, and it takes a lot of time.”

Wood said she acted as a sounding board for Webber where he was able to unload and not have to worry about his agenda.

“I think that’s where our relationship grew – being in a situation where he trusts me,” she said.

Because “universities are notorious for moving very slowly,” the effects of Webber’s work might not come into fruition for a couple more years, Wood said.

“Being patient and understanding – that is the best thing he’s been able to do,” she said. “The future of Northwestern will benefit.”

So far, Webber has built the foundation for future initiatives by researching and starting conversations. Such projects include creating a 24-hour campus and an office for off-campus students.

“I’m confident I will leave ASG better than I found it,” Webber said. “I really think a lot of the projects that I worked on — that they’re going to have an effect on campus two to five years from now.”


—ALICE TRUONG