Miss-Delectable
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The Daily Colonial - SA funds are for students, not private causes
In the past several weeks, the story of the large-scale protest at Gallaudet University has been the highlight of both the local and national news. Before classes resumed on Monday, protestors succeeded in basically shutting down the campus: over 130 students were arrested for their efforts. Now, that story has broadened to involve GW politics, due to Student Association President Lamar Thorpe '07’s recent attempt to provide support for the protestors using SA funds.
Gallaudet is the nation’s only liberal arts university for the deaf and hearing impaired. Located just across town from GW in northeast D.C., Gallaudet is home to approximately 2,000 students who are either deaf or hearing impaired.
The current controversy that has paralyzed Gallaudet stems from the selection of Jane Fernandes as the new president of the University. Many students are dissatisfied with the selection and are demanding her resignation or removal, along with a pledge that they will not be punished for their acts of protest. Complaints about Fernandez include the accusations that she does not sign proficiently and that she is not open to the diverse views of the student body.
Recently, Thorpe visited Gallaudet and spoke to several of the protestors through an interpreter. After hearing their purpose and seeing their living conditions, Thorpe became convinced of their cause. As a means of supporting the protest, Thorpe used $141 of his executive budget to purchase coal and blankets for the protestors. However, Thorpe did not consult the Senate before doing so, causing some Senators to be concerned with his decision.
Using SA funds to support a controversial cause without the prior consent of the Senate is not a responsible decision. Especially in year such as this, where the SA is severely limited by budget constraints, Thorpe should have taken the time to consult the Senate before making his decision to spend from the executive budget.
While Thorpe may technically have the right to spend these funds as he sees appropriate, he should not have unilaterally done so on such a controversial issue. Furthermore, by using the funds to support Gallaudet protestors, he spent money that otherwise would have been used to benefit the GW community.
Fortunately, Thorpe realized his mistake and reversed course. After meeting with the Senate to discuss the decision on Monday, Thorpe agreed to no longer use SA funds to support the protestors and promised that the money initially spent from his executive budget would be returned.
Thorpe also assured The Daily Colonial that his support is not necessarily due to what students at Gallaudet are protesting, but rather towards their right to protest, saying that Gallaudet students are “oppressed” and “need a voice.”
Thorpe repeatedly reiterated his personal support and commitment to helping the protestors and pledged to raise private funds to do so, an act that is perfectly within his rights. Any student, whether SA President or otherwise, has the right to raise private funds for a cause which they believe in and Thorpe’s convictions are to be admired.
Looking to the future, SA members should take this saga as a reminder that they should not use their positions to unilaterally support private causes, no matter how worthy they appear.
The Student Association represents all of the GW student body, not just one or a few.
Members of the SA should be commended for pushing for consensus before implementing an idea, no matter how good it may seem.
In the past several weeks, the story of the large-scale protest at Gallaudet University has been the highlight of both the local and national news. Before classes resumed on Monday, protestors succeeded in basically shutting down the campus: over 130 students were arrested for their efforts. Now, that story has broadened to involve GW politics, due to Student Association President Lamar Thorpe '07’s recent attempt to provide support for the protestors using SA funds.
Gallaudet is the nation’s only liberal arts university for the deaf and hearing impaired. Located just across town from GW in northeast D.C., Gallaudet is home to approximately 2,000 students who are either deaf or hearing impaired.
The current controversy that has paralyzed Gallaudet stems from the selection of Jane Fernandes as the new president of the University. Many students are dissatisfied with the selection and are demanding her resignation or removal, along with a pledge that they will not be punished for their acts of protest. Complaints about Fernandez include the accusations that she does not sign proficiently and that she is not open to the diverse views of the student body.
Recently, Thorpe visited Gallaudet and spoke to several of the protestors through an interpreter. After hearing their purpose and seeing their living conditions, Thorpe became convinced of their cause. As a means of supporting the protest, Thorpe used $141 of his executive budget to purchase coal and blankets for the protestors. However, Thorpe did not consult the Senate before doing so, causing some Senators to be concerned with his decision.
Using SA funds to support a controversial cause without the prior consent of the Senate is not a responsible decision. Especially in year such as this, where the SA is severely limited by budget constraints, Thorpe should have taken the time to consult the Senate before making his decision to spend from the executive budget.
While Thorpe may technically have the right to spend these funds as he sees appropriate, he should not have unilaterally done so on such a controversial issue. Furthermore, by using the funds to support Gallaudet protestors, he spent money that otherwise would have been used to benefit the GW community.
Fortunately, Thorpe realized his mistake and reversed course. After meeting with the Senate to discuss the decision on Monday, Thorpe agreed to no longer use SA funds to support the protestors and promised that the money initially spent from his executive budget would be returned.
Thorpe also assured The Daily Colonial that his support is not necessarily due to what students at Gallaudet are protesting, but rather towards their right to protest, saying that Gallaudet students are “oppressed” and “need a voice.”
Thorpe repeatedly reiterated his personal support and commitment to helping the protestors and pledged to raise private funds to do so, an act that is perfectly within his rights. Any student, whether SA President or otherwise, has the right to raise private funds for a cause which they believe in and Thorpe’s convictions are to be admired.
Looking to the future, SA members should take this saga as a reminder that they should not use their positions to unilaterally support private causes, no matter how worthy they appear.
The Student Association represents all of the GW student body, not just one or a few.
Members of the SA should be commended for pushing for consensus before implementing an idea, no matter how good it may seem.