The 2000-2001 Government of the Student Body senate was inaugurated Tuesday and met for the first time Wednesday night, giving rise to a new generation of student leaders with the opportunity to make a fresh start.

The 1999-2000 senate had a pretty typical year with high points, low points and a few frustrating points. It seems that any government, no matter what level, can’t escape bureaucracy.

Students may be dismayed with GSB’s operations, or maybe even unaware the organization exists, but that can all change with the new senate. The high turnover in GSB means all past problems can be forgotten and poor behavior can be corrected.

Not that the 1999-2000 GSB senate didn’t do its fair amount of good deeds.

The most tangible achievement for students is the approval of a new bus shelter in the commuter lot. GSB allocated $125,000 of its Special Projects Account to build something students can see and appreciate.

The senate also took a step toward implementing electronic voting, which may go into effect for the 2001 GSB elections. Even though students didn’t have the convenience of electronic voting this time around, GSB still managed to double voter turnout from 1999.

GSB has become an avenue for activism. Under the leadership of President Matt Craft and Vice President Garrett Toay, GSB made a valiant attempt at persuading the state Board of Regents to minimize the tuition increase.

Although they were unsuccessful, they didn’t get discouraged in their fight to protect students’ money.

Senators and executives, including newly inaugurated President Ben Golding, also spearheaded a movement to protest the Iowa House’s proposed budget cuts to the regent universities.

Other GSB actions meant well but were ultimately corrupted by lack of support or misdirected focus on parliamentary procedure.

The GSB/Inter-Residence Hall Association Committee on the Department of Residence was a good idea, but in implementation it lost its luster and eventually fizzled when members couldn’t find the dirt they were looking for.

The bill to outlaw hats in GSB meetings in theory would boost respect for the senate and its procedures, but in practice it would have made them look foolish.

GSB senate meetings don’t have to be unproductive, endless fights over grammar and decorum.

We urge the new senators to use their terms to help their constituents — not to get bogged down in technicalities and politics.

Congratulations on your inauguration, and always keep the students’ best interests at heart.

Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Sara Ziegler, Greg Jerrett, Kate Kompas, Carrie Tett and David Roepke.