One of the trainings Jurassic Parliament presented this year was for nine sharp students at a community college, who constitute a student government without a head. There are directors for administration, for academic affairs, for clubs, etc. but no president, no single person who is “in charge.” Each member will take it in turn to chair a meeting, so that each student has three chances to do so during the year.
It’s an interesting model, but the curmudgeon in me feels skeptical. How well can an organization function without a head? Perhaps, in this instance, the advisor or faculty member carries the burden of arranging the schedule, reminding the secretary to finish the minutes, making sure the agenda is posted, and taking care of all those little details that are essential to the functioning of any leadership group.
As I hope the minutes make clear, we had a good time:
- Motion to require pterodactyls to park on the roof of dormitory for safety reasons – approved
- Motion to build a sports complex with 4 football fields, 3 baseball/softball fields, bowling alley, golf course including driving range and miniature golf, skateboard park – approved
- Motion to build an electrified perimeter fence to protect students from drunken woolly mammoths – defeated
- Motion to build moat for same purpose – defeated
The students were engaged, sharp, and knowledgeable. I wager they’ll do just fine this year, but I’m curious about how their unusual governmental structure functions in practice.
Ann G. Macfarlane, PRP
(c) Jurassic Parliament 2011. All rights reserved.
