Editorial: Government leaders abuse students’ trust

Friday, July 13, 2001 | 4:18 a.m.

Student government is a training ground, of sorts, for tomorrow's leaders. Unfortunately, some student government leaders at the Community College of Southern Nevada have followed the examples of the political world's dregs.

As reporter Jennifer Knight disclosed Friday, a CCSN audit obtained by the Sun showed that student government leaders used money, which was intended to enhance student life on campus, in dubious ways. For example, of the nearly $500,000 given to student government, $94,000 was lavished on parties that usually weren't well attended, student senators spent $20,000 on out-of-state junkets -- including one to Santa Barbara, Calif., to attend the musical "Showboat" -- and 15 Dell computers were bought for $18,000 that still haven't been accounted for.

Student government is funded from fees imposed on students, and because the government is separate from the administration, CCSN officials say that they couldn't do much to rein in spending. But the Board of Regents should investigate this matter and take steps to ensure that such a disgraceful abuse of student fees isn't allowed to happen again.

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