If there were one phrase that describes the outward message and goal of UB's undergraduate Student Association, it would definitely have to be "get involved ." This phrase litters SA pamphlets, pencils, T-shirts and SA sponsored publications. It is so inviting. To the average UB student who is not involved with SA this might seem like a benign, inviting little phrase. However inviting it may be, it needs to be qualified. Instead of reading "Get involved," it should say, "Get involved (as long as you don't try to get involved with the actual student government part of SA, because that is reserved for people who are in the good graces of the SA president)." After all, this is the message that SA sends with its actions, particularly in the area of elections.
This behavior can be traced back two years to when Chris Oliver ran for his first term as president, and certainly ran rampant in last year's SA elections, but I would prefer to focus on the current SUNY SA and SA Senate elections. "The Edge Party," which boasts "fresh ideas," is composed partly of no less than all three currently serving NYSSA delegates. Katie Walsh, Yesenia Diaz and Anthony Burgio were all elected last year as part of the Results Party ticket. If these three are elected, they will be able to serve as SA Senators and NYSSA delegates concurrently. Conflicts abound with this scenario.
As NYSSA delegates it is their job to be strong advocates for UB students at a state level. This is an extremely important part of student government. UB students no doubt need strong representation in Albany. If Walsh, Diaz and Burgio have enough time to serve as NYSSA delegates and SA senators, that tells me that they are not working hard enough for us in Albany. Perhaps all the down time that these three have would be best filled by listening to what average students want and trying to voice those sentiments in Albany, rather than taking on another important responsibility as a SA senator. If they have time for both, they do not deserve either. It comes down to a matter of fairness. It is not fair to deprive UB students of effective representation in the name of resume building and executive greed.
It is clear that with Walsh, Diaz and Burgio on the ballot, SA President Chris Oliver is only attempting to tighten his already suffocating grip on all branches of SA government. Mr. Oliver personally appoints justices to SWJ, Vice-President Jen Brace is the presiding officer in the SA Assembly, and now Mr. Oliver is trying to pack the Senate with his allies. This type of behavior is common in politics, though it is not so offensive and superfluous as the manner that Mr. Oliver is employing. Imagine it. The president of the United States, George W. Bush, who is one two seats away from a majority in the United States Senate, recruits two members of the House of Representatives to run for Senate. If they win they are able to serve in both positions and, clearly, at the pleasure of the president.
The above-mentioned situation would never happen for two reasons. One, the United States constitution prohibits a member of Congress from serving in both houses concurrently. And two, the American people would not stand for it. They would be getting robbed in representation, sacrificed to the god of abuse of power and ego.
The American people would not stand such behavior, and neither should the students at UB. First, UB students should have rejected "The Edge Party" slate in the elections. Secondly, UB students should demand that the SA assembly draft an amendment to the SA constitution that explicitly states that those who serve in one capacity cannot serve concurrently in another. Let us not make this school year the year that SA officially became a puppet organization for the personal aspirations of the SA president. Instead let us make this the year that SA finally got its act together and accomplished something for ALL UB students.
