WE ARE ... no longer a democratic student body.

After trying to follow the debate between the two not-so-student governments (that's right, as of right now Penn State students have no representation until Oct. 11), I have found the politics between USG and UPUA to be both deceitful and disrespectful.

I support change, and most would agree that USG needed a face-lift. However, I do not support the editing of a student government constitution without the consent of the student body.

A constitution is by definition the basic principles and laws of a nation, state or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it.

We, as members of the Penn State student body have a right to elect the people changing our constitution, to know what our constitution may say and to approve any changes before it becomes our governing legislator.

The reasoning behind not allowing the student body to approve the changes is cited as "efficiency," according to The Daily Collegian's article "Student government considers amending constitution," Sept. 22.

Thus, UPUA is simply trying to make the transition easier.

This just in: democracy does not have to be easy; it does not need to be hard either. But it does have to be existent.