When the Greek philosopher Plato questioned Socrates’ ideal republic, his goal was to insure morality stayed true to government, and corruption would not take place. Plato asked, ‘Who watches the watchmen?’ Today, Plato’s theories still resonate with students at the University – especially members of the newly formed Coalition for USG Reform. The Coalition, which has over 100 members in its Facebook group, was founded by students who felt powerless when it came to taking part in critical decisions involving the Undergraduate Student Government. The group formed due to the outrage many students felt when they learned in February that future students will have to pay a $60 semester fee to help fund $23.1 million of the $34 million total cost for the Stroh Center. Founder of the Coalition Steve Currie said the organization was necessary in order to get students heard and to make decisions based on a majority of the student body – instead of letting 21 people make a decision for over 17,000 undergraduate students, which is what happened on Feb. 23 when USG voted on the Center. ‘Our goal is to keep USG as ethical and ideal of an institution as it can be,’ Currie said. ‘All students have opinions, but we want the students to have a say in what goes on and correct the misguided concept of USG’s vote on Stroh.’ Currie, along with the Coalition, do not have a stance one way or the other about the Stroh Center, but the group wants democracy to be upheld. By offering students a vote, they can be better informed on University politics and can have a say in important decisions like the Stroh Center, Currie said. Senator of Internal Affairs Committee Chair Leo Almeida said he felt he got an accurate representation of the students he represents by asking around 100 people what their thoughts on the Stroh Center were. But some students feel 100 people may not be a good enough representation when it comes to decisions like the Stroh issue. ‘I feel its a gross representation of student opinion,’ coalition member Joe Edens said. While Edens does not question the faithfulness of individual senators, he said he feels USG as a whole is not serving the students. According to Edens, students are not involved with the government because the main source for USG – their Web site – tells students nothing. Currently, the issues section of USG’s official Web site is empty and is in the process of being updated. ‘Students might be involved if they knew what USG was advertising,’ Edens said. Student Dominic Wells, who is a newer member of the Coalition, said he is proud to be with a group committed to the students who will make sure their voices get heard. ‘I can guarantee me and my members of the coalition will hold up their end on talking to their constituency, informing people about the issues going on and when it comes to something as major as the Stroh center, I believe my Coalition members and I will do the right thing,’ Wells said. The Coalition will also work to support USG members by campaigning to get into the organization themselves. The Coalition has at least six members vying for seats in the senate next year, including Wells, who with the help of the group, will try to be the best senator he can be by keeping student’s ideals in mind – and communicating with the students he would represent. Wells, along with the rest of the Coalition, will do their part to inform the students about Stroh Center issues by holding a protest today at 12:20 p.m. in front of the Free Speech Zone. ‘ The main purpose of the protest will be to get the right to vote on the Stroh Center by trying to enact a clause in USG’s constitution. According to Article VII, Section 2 of the USG Constitution, if the Senate takes any formal action, like a vote in favor or against the Stroh Center, their resolution can be put to a vote by the student body if certain requirements are met. First, a petition must have signatures from at least five percent of the entire student body. The Coalition is planning on acquiring 1,000 signatures by the end of the week. Then the issue will go on a ballot and within 15 academic days, the students will be able to vote on the issue. The vote will count only if 10 percent of the student body participates in the election. Majority rule will be in effect and the students will decide whether or not they want to pay the fee or get funds from a private investor or University money. And though the Coalition and USG may not see eye-to-eye on campus issues, there are USG senators who still agree with the idea of ‘watchmen.’ Senator Andrew Doepping does not think a Coalition is necessary, but said it is good to have students actively involved in politics on campus. ‘I’m completely in support of the Coalition,’ Doepping said. Former Senate Speaker Jeremy Lehman said during his time involved with USG, all students were represented well and USG had the best intentions in mind. ‘We did out best to represent students the best way we know how,’ Lehman said. ‘I wouldn’t fault any senator for being lazy at all.’ One of the biggest controversies of the Stroh Center had to do with 19 senators not voting on the issue. ‘ Doepping said it was not because the absent senators did not want to vote, but because they could not vote because the 19 of them did not go to their required office hours. ‘I was disappointed the senators didn’t show up for something that was so major [even if they couldn’t vote],’ Wells said. ‘Personally, its none of my business where they were and how they weren’t there [but] its not upholding their bargain as an elected official.’ And even though the Coalition was formed due to issues surrounding the Stroh Center, the new arena is not the main purpose of the group. The Coalition plans on increasing USG transparency by improving the faithful representation of constituencies while informing students about all issues related to USG, including elections and policies. ‘The Stroh was a uniting issue to start the coalition itself. This is an evolving process,’ Currie said. ‘The group plans to continue on with USG candidates and to make sure the USG election involves voters to be as informed as possible on all candidates.’