Dear Editor,
I am appalled by our Student Government Association (SGA) and its president, T.J. Mitchell, for their lack of action to represent the student body at ETSU.
As a former senator of the SGA, I know firsthand the absence of enthusiasm that the governing body exhibits toward the students it is sworn to represent.
The SGA cannot abide by its own constitution, let alone be a beacon for our student body.
I find it highly ironic that the person who campaigned to represent the students as president would put those same students on the backburner with regard to their rights and privileges.
Our so-called “president” stole practically every idea concerning the SGA and its presence on our campus from me as YOUR former senator, but has yet to enact those ideas thus far this school year.
How is it that we students will have paid two semesters worth of activity fees but have nothing to show for it?
My friends, just because our economy is in a recession does not excuse our student government for providing services by which we pay for via our activity fees.
If President Obama can spend over $100 million on an inaugural ball, after spending over $300 million on his presidential campaign, then why can’t we as students at a small university in Northeast Tennessee receive our spring concert?
I was OK with not having a fall concert, even considering the “mistake” that resulted from the Carrie Underwood concert could have been prevented by a third-grade math student.
What I am not OK with is the misrepresentation of the student body by our SGA. We need a student-body president who cares – and friends, I CARE!
I am running for Dr. Roe’s Johnson City Commission seat that was left unexpired due to his Congressional win in November. Please know that I also intend to seek candidacy as YOUR student body president as a write-in for our next election. I was not allowed to do so last year, but mark my word I will be running this term!
For the sake of our university, let’s elect someone from the student body as president that CARES about the students.
I will fight for what is right and for what is fair, and I assure you that had I been your president this year we would get what we paid for!
-Michael D. Hutton

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