Dear Students,

Despite the atrocities that have been committed by previous Student Government officials, I want you to know how much I care about you and FAU as an institution. I hate the embezzlement, secrecy and discriminatory politics that have plagued us in the past. I am immediately embittered by even the slightest recollection of the malicious behavior that has, regrettably, been a part of our history. In order to prevent this unacceptable behavior from occurring again, I have welcomed change and accountability.

This being said, the student body has fearlessly led an effort to rewrite the constitution. We have held conventions, town hall meetings and committee gatherings. Dozens of students have spent countless hours rewriting a document that will help improve SGA. It is important to understand that the Student Government Constitution has undergone a global revision. It was not subject to a series of amendments by SG leaders. Conversely, the new document is a product of the students themselves. Believe it or not, a handful of SG leaders adamantly oppose the idea of having the Constitution ratified by the student body. They will argue that the elected leaders (i.e. themselves) need more power and more influence over the document. They will state that they were circumvented in the writing process. They may even resort to griping about the attendance at meetings or the nature of the advertising. Nevertheless, they will continue to maintain the elitist attitude that proves both their selfishness and their lack of regard for the democratic process.

I am writing this letter on behalf of the SG leaders that have fought for democracy and your right to vote on this document. Great leaders such as Governor Ed Fulton and Representative Jeff Joyner in Jupiter, along with Governor Paul Lowe in Treasure Coast and Representative John Fadoul in Broward have been committed to students’ rights. We sincerely ask you to assist us in ratifying this document. We are proud of its content and structure. We also want you to know that we welcome any feedback and encourage your involvement in the authorship of the statutes. You may view the Constitution from the FAU home page. Voting will take place through MYFAU on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13. I would be delighted to address any concerns or inquiries.

Respectfully,

Austin J. ShawStudent Body President