Calling for integrity in USUSA

In light of the recent hearings of USUSA officers Po’okela Yamakoshi-Sing and Ben Burdette, we as an editorial board want to express the need for further transparency and professionalism within USUSA. The decisions made in the hearings affect the overall student body. These are the officers the students elected to office, and the effects of the hearings do impact them. We find reporting done on the hearings is necessary, as many students would be unaware they took place without this. Our goal is not to have students scrutinize the mistakes of USUSA officers, but in turn, we believe if these mistakes constitute a hearing, students should be aware of how the outcome of such could influence the representation they have within student government. These hearings are open to public attendance and knowledge but can be time-consuming and rigorous for students to sit through. A recent hearing for one of the aforementioned officers exceeded six hours and went well beyond standard business hours. If these hearings cannot be handled swiftly or even in a timely manner, it calls into question the integrity and professionalism of our student association and its bylaws. Therefore, the decision to report on these hearings and alert students about their results was made in order to ensure all students are aware of who is representing them in USUSA.