Our student government is in a state of siege. It all began rather innocently, with a few harsh words exchanged between members of the USG senate and the executive branch. But after a number of questionable Senate appointments, "reorganizations," and legislative actions, what was once a petty and innocuous debate has exploded into the USG Senate's clear disregard for the norms of democracy, decency, and common sense to which elected leaders should be held.
Over the past two months, as the senate has extended its power grip to realms where it has no jurisdiction, leaders of the conservative coalition have arrogantly brushed aside criticism. In a reckless and insolent fashion they have funded a personal joyride to a conservative lovefest in Washington D.C. They have shrugged off University officials as dictators. For ten months they have ignored the students and done as they please. And it's time that we, their constituents, say that we've had enough.
While members of the conservative coalition contend that they are "committed to progress," a quick glimpse at how the senate has trampled over basic democratic principles suggests otherwise. Through a system of political appointments, and not elections, the leadership of the conservative coalition has filled vacant Senate seats not with representatives of the student body, but instead representatives of their cause. The de facto leader of conservative coalition, Town Senator Jason Covener, put it best when he said, "The face of senate has changed."
As one of those who were appointed, even after having failed to win in last year's election, he surely would know.
Disturbingly, these Senate appointees are the people writing a majority of the group's legislation. Appointed Town Senator, and unsuccessful USG Presidential candidate, Rob Michaels recently noted in the Collegian that Covener "sponsors about 90 percent of our legislation." This is a notion that was supported by several other senators at the senate's most recent meeting. To his credit, Mr. Covener has been a diligent worker during his tenure in the senate; however, I find it disconcerting that someone who was never elected is determining the vast majority of senate policy. Exactly what are the other 27 senators doing?
Of course, it was not surprising, then, that it was Covener who unveiled the coalition's revised elections code at a senate meeting last month. While several members of the coalition argue that the revised code will save money, its true purpose is quite obvious. Covener himself put it best when at Tuesday's senate meeting he stated, "I wrote a new elections code because the one last year didn't work." Perhaps he would have a different viewpoint if he had actually won the election last year.
By shortening the time period during which candidates for USG Senate and President can conduct their campaign activities, the senate has openly embraced a hands off approach to democracy, in which voters barely have enough time to figure out who's running for office, let alone what each candidate stands for. By declaring elections "an imposition on students," the senate majority has openly endorsed apathy - the key to their continued majority. But hey, that's "progress."
In defense of their conduct, members of the conservative coalition note that everything that they have done is in accordance with senate by-laws. More disturbing than the senate majority's disregard for democracy and ethics, however, is the coalition's propensity to misrepresent the facts and selectively disregard common sense when explaining issues to the public.
For instance, at Tuesday evening's senate meeting, Senator Josh Sullivan, in praising Covener's work, said that Covener volunteered to work on bus ticket sales. Mr. Sullivan seems to have forgotten that once upon a time, before the senate abolished it, the executive branch had a business department with a business director to take care of that same thing.
What the USG senate has become is not a democratic body representing the views of the students. It is a body governed by a coalition, which through certain members' unethical and misleading actions has made a farce out of the basic notions of democracy. Indeed, members of the senate majority have violated the mutual trust that exists between representative and voter.
It's time that we, the students, speak up; it's time for the antics to end.
