Our View: USUSA Constitutional changes tread dangerous ground
There has been a lot of drama over the last couple of weeks about the relationship between different student body offices as well as their relationship to the press.
We, as an entity, strive to uphold working relationships with student body officers, administrators and fellow students. We try our best not to take sides but rather allow our sources to tell their own stories. We respect the opinions of others, even when we may not agree with them, and we request that others grant us the same privilege.
The six recent USUSA constitutional changes, approved by 74 percent of student voters as a single item on the elections ballot, worry us for a couple of reasons.
It seems the freedom for students to express themselves is getting more and more restricted. Or maybe it’s that the consequences for expressing oneself are growing more and more severe.
Last week, we published an article explaining that impeachment was deemed unnecessary by the executive council for a college senator, who expressed his opinion to a member of The Utah Statesman. Though the senator made some poor choices in his defense to the council, the conversation in question — for which the meeting was called — took place at a table at the Involvement Fair and consisted of the senator giving feedback about an article.
With the limited evidence presented, the executive council recommended the officer be placed on probation. Were the newly-voted changes applied in this meeting which took place a couple of weeks ago, the recommendation might have become a reality.
Impeachment would certainly be a harsh punishment for expressing one’s opinions, even if it wasn’t done in the most tactful manner. We would argue that probation is also harsh, and it’s worrisome that this is such a close possibility.
The hearing board is a unique and important group within the USUSA organization. It consists of seven students whose job is to interpret the USUSA Constitution. These students act as a jury of sorts, calling in witnesses and trying to do what’s right, hopefully, without biases.
They are also a body with the power to deem proposed alterations to the official document unconstitutional when presented with a grievance from a member of the student body. Their decisions can only be rescinded by the office of the vice president of student services.
Overlooking the importance of this body is dangerous. Taking away part of their power dims hope for some. Obviously, other groups play a vital role in the political system of this university, but retracting power from this group and giving it to another should not be taken lightly.