Who’s in charge anyway?

I am a graduate student at FAU. I have also served as the Student Court Chief Justice, and was one of the founding fathers of the current student government constitution. I am saddened but not surprised at the current state of affairs.

When a charismatic leader departs the scene there is typically a power vacuum.

In a normal political environment, opposition is considered healthy and necessary. However, these days in the toxic political environment that has gripped the country and apparently the student government, opposition to one’s platform has become personal.

This is a fundamental mistake. I was one of the great curmudgeons, and although my arguments were great with the leadership, I never took it personally. While political “red” and “blue” groups are useful for elections and may be useful on nametags during senate meetings, such designations do not belong on the official office signs of student government. Our student government represents all the students, not just the ones that voted for you.

Our student government is facing real problems, namely a board of trustees who think the student government is just another university department for them to be in charge of. We need real solutions, not whiners and backstabbers on either side. The student government, both Ancel Pratt and the loyal opposition, must stand up to the administration and the board of trustees. The powers that be may think they hold all the cards, but they have to respond to public opinion including the alumni association (which includes many former members of student government), and local newspapers.

Sincerely,

Stephen VossMaster’s student political scienceFormer Student Government memberLifetime Alumni Member