For almost a year now I have waged a war against the hierarchs that run the University of Texas’ student government. Last year while SG’s policy director, I learned firsthand that my student government was not representing its voters, but the school’s administration. UTSG has pushed the administration’s agenda at the expense of students, even on issues such as tuition hikes. I took action and formed an organization called “The Texas Revolution: Students for SG Reform.” Garnering support from all sectors of the student body the Texas Revolution raised $10,000 to fund reform minded candidates against the incumbent ticket (the election is scheduled for March). Even University Democrats have supported our commitment to openness, fairness, responsibility, and legitimacy. Seeing the momentum we received, UT’s student newspaper published the following article about the Revolution:

By Abhinav Kumar

Limiting yourself by labeling Student Government as “just another lame student organization” is a cop-out. To those apathetic students: I used to be one of you. But SG does have real connections, and those in power do represent the entire University student body to influential, law-changing groups such as the University Board of Regents, the Austin City Council, the Texas State Legislature and sometimes even the federal government. We are not utilizing the tools and resources available to us through SG.

However, you could get a whiff of change if you walk through the West Mall during peak traffic hours. You may be surprised to notice that the enormous Texas Revolution banner does not belong to the McCain or Obama support groups. It has nothing to do with national or state politics at all. The banner — which seems to be the most prominent piece of advertisement in the West Mall — takes a look at our own University’s politics and represents a fledgling student organization that has been in the works for nearly six months.

Let’s travel back to April 2008. Keshav Rajagopalan’s Empower ticket has just received dominating support in the SG elections — due in part to the votes and lack of smart, opposing candidates. In the midst of Empower’s victory and after the new administration is sworn in, a lone student approaches the microphone during this period of inauguration and speaks: “Student Government has forgotten the students they represent and needs to be reformed in order to serve its true purpose. SG has become a rubber stamp for President Powers to raise tuition.”

Geoff Geiger, the student who spoke out, is currently on the board of directors for The Texas Revolution. According to its Web site, the Revolution wants to correct SG’s “expensive, inefficient, arrogant and unalterable” policies through reform. I first wrote off the students involved in the Revolution as young adults with residual teen angst and no chance of changing anything. However, many of the Revolution’s leaders are students who once climbed the SG ladder diligently and formed their conclusions after their experiences.

For example, Lance Kennedy — one of the chief architects of the Revolution — was the former policy director for SG. In a recent interview with the Texan, Kennedy said his discontent with SG stems from the fact that his position of policy director was created out of thin air for no real purpose other than feel-goodery, and he was given a budget to essentially do nothing. A quick review of the SG Web site reveals at least 29 such agencies that Kennedy says are given a budget and not held accountable for their actions.

Their solution? Get rid of them and downsize the bureaucracy.

Armed with a hefty war chest, the Revolution has decided to fund those reform-minded candidates who meet its criteria in the spring SG election.

One issue the Revolution hopes SG will reform for all students is tuition. Since fall 2005, no SG administration has ever wanted to decrease tuition. Using phrases like “affordability and accessibility,” SG sidesteps representing students’ interests regarding tuition. By misaligning their responsibilities and appointing like-minded students to the Tuition Policy Advisory Committee — the key group that makes recommendations regarding tuition increases — our representatives showcase amazing multi-tasking skills as they bend over while simultaneously allow tuition to increase time and time again, proving that the Revolution is coming not a moment too soon.

Kumar is a business honors and supply chain management senior.”

The battles of the future will be fought by us, better be practicing while you can. Point being, GET OUT THERE AND TAKE ACTION! It doesn’t matter if it is in your student government, fight for conservative values and get used to it.