I was shocked after reading the cover story of last week’s Clarion about how our USG Senate members are currently NOT getting paid. A recent bill has been passed giving only the top three members of the Senate a minimal $1,500 a year, and this money can only be spent on books.

While this new bill was a step in the right direction, it was still pretty much a slap in the face to most of the Senate members. DU’s USG Senate has become the laughing stock of other university student government programs which chuckle at the fact that most of our senators, not only have to pay for their own books, but also pay tuition, work for their grades and even walk themselves to class without limousine security escort services.

There are hundreds of student organizations making a difference on campus where students spend hours of their time, money and work hard, and get no monetary reimbursement. As members of the ruling body on campus, how are these senators going to be able to prove that their position is more important than that of others?

Current USG leadership states that this bill is important to encourage students to participate in USG, and this couldn’t be more true. Why would any student even think about running for a Senate seat, if they couldn’t brag to their fellow students about how they are better than them? And with only $1,500, students still might not see the motivation.

President Perretta himself even stated, “The goal (…) is for [me] (…) [to become more] well off (…) than (…) my [friends]. I am [also, probably] (…) better [than you].”

Most real politicians use contributions and personal finances to win elections. In contrast, USG senators are forced to win their elections based on popularity. Therefore, it only makes sense to pay the USG senators in popularity points as well.

These points could include a mandatory Facebook friendship of all DU students, required hellos and public high-fives from star DU athletes, as well as an invitation and predetermined attractive date for every Greek-life formal event.

Some senators on our current USG staff, such as Tim Healy and Dillon Doyle, were corrupt enough to vote against the bill that gave top senate seats an insignificant book stipend. These senators ignored the wants of hard working honest students just trying to get rid of some of their extra money. These fraudulent senators also damaged the experience of their fellow USG peers.

An important part of the USG Senate is to help prepare students for the future, giving them experience in a leadership position and a general understanding of how political meetings are run.

Although USG has managed to stir up some scandals, controversy and uproar, it currently has not been able to experience any lessons in political self-betterment. With only three Senate members getting paid, a majority of USG will not even be able to practice personal embezzlement, fund siphoning and pork barreling.

If measures are not taken soon to give larger salaries to every member on USG, the Senate itself might rise up and actually start doing something.