By Paul TakahashiThe Daily Northwestern
One of the many things Jon Webber discovered during his first 24 days as ASG president is that change does not come quickly.
Webber was elected Associated Student Government president on April 10. As part of his campaign platform, he outlined a 24-day plan containing 10 items he would accomplish within his first 24 days as president to improve the Northwestern community.
Monday concluded his 24-day timetable, and Webber has fully accomplished half of his agenda so far.
“I would love to have it done in 24 days, but you have to do a quality job,” said Webber, a SESP junior. “Quality is more important than timing.
“Even though you can’t check everything off the list, I don’t see it as a failure. It’s good that we have people in ASG who can say, ‘I didn’t do all 10, but I did my best.'”
Webber was unable to complete the 24-day plan within his self-imposed timetable in part because of some unforeseen issues that came up and required his attention, he said. One such issue was a motion passed during Spring Quarter funding to subsidize dimmers used in student theater productions.
Webber said the investment to partially pay for the $18,000 dimmers would pay itself off in 20 years.
“This was an amazing example of innovative, creative thinking that’s going to have positive repercussions for Northwestern students who are graduating in the year 2030,” Webber said. “This is an example of a get-it-done student government.”
Webber said he was also sidetracked by an effort to open 14 side doors in residence halls and residential colleges at a mid-April security exemption meeting.
“I represented student interests as strongly and as adamantly as I could, and I think it was reflected in the doors being opened, specifically in Foster-Walker (Complex),” Webber said.
Four of the five initiatives Webber has not completed are still in the working stages, he said. Webber completed an evaluation of four of 12 ASG committees and programs.
He also has spoken with administrators about the high prices of products sold at the C-stores in light of a contract renewal with SodexhoUSA.
“The Sodexho contract is the trickiest and most important project going on in terms of ASG support,” Webber said. “It’s a very uphill fight.”
Webber also is awaiting the administration’s decision on action concerning shuttle reliability before beginning to work on a proposal to improve shuttle service.
As promised, Webber organized an ASG-sponsored dinner to help student group leaders interact better on campus.
“We’re trying to bring together a diverse group of student leaders on campus who are all leaders within their communities but who may not interact,” Webber said.
Webber has also organized two ASG-led focus groups, composed of senior leaders of student groups, to improve publicity and funding for campus organizations.
Webber has laid the framework for the creation of a student group resource center on the third floor of Norris University Center. He and Executive Vice President Matt Bogusz, a Weinberg sophomore, have installed a new color printer and ordered two new computers for student groups to use.
“This is a great way ASG is improving our services to student groups, decreasing the costs student groups will incur for publicity,” Webber said.
Webber was also met with students hoping to increase minority enrollment at NU to discuss an action plan.
“I didn’t expect a big commitment to change (minority enrollment) from the administration,” said SESP senior Cassandra Chen, a member of Promote 360, a group dedicated to minority empowerment and support. “Given the amount of time, I don’t think it was realistic.”
Reach Paul Takahashi at [email protected].
