ASUO Sen. Lindy Mabuya@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Lindy+Mabuya@@ filed a grievance against ASUO Senate President Lamar Wise@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Lamar+Wise@@ on Thursday, asking for his removal as Senate President.
The grievance states Wise could potentially be in non-fulfillment of duties for failing to hold two cultural competency trainings. Mabuya cited the Green Tape Notebook and said it is the job of the Senate President to hold two workshops with the ASUO Senate to discuss issues such as homophobia, racism and sexism.
There should be two held throughout the year, one before Nov. 1 and one before March 1. She filed the grievance because there has not been a training this term.
In the grievance, she is asking that Wise step down from his position as senate president but allow him to remain a senator.
Wise, who is planning to run for ASUO vice president next year, explained that he has been trying to set up a training. He sent an email to Senate at the beginning of the term asking for their availability but didn’t get many responses.
“I sent out a message seeing when people were free but only heard back from half of Senate,” he said. “That spoke to how folks weren’t available.”
After a lack of responses, Wise asked senators what they would like to see in a training and took notes. He then went to Ryan Riddick,@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Ryan+Riddick@@ the ASUO Multicultural Advocate, and asked her to help plan something; however, due to time constraints, it still hasn’t been planned.
“I don’t want to put on a training just to put one on,” Wise said.@@but you have to — that’s the point@@ “I want it to be comprehensive of what Senate needs and wants.”
Mabuya’s grievance points to a bigger issue within the ASUO. Last week, the Emerald ran letters from both Mabuya and Sen. Vania Loredo@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Vania+Loredo@@ about how they feel they don’t have a voice in the ASUO because they are women of color.
“People don’t understand how their actions are affecting other people,” Loredo said. “They often use language that is very exclusive.”
She explained that this year there are more women of color involved in the ASUO, but people haven’t been considering the dynamics have changed. She believes one of the reasons for this is lack of training in cultural competency.
“It is hard to deal with the condescending attitudes,” she said. “No one has ever told them to check themselves.”
Loredo stated that she often feels ignored at Senate meetings as well as in the ASUO office and feels a training would be incredibly beneficial.
“This group is very non-inclusive to minorities, and that is concerning to me,” she said.
Mabuya has felt the same way; as she explained during Senate meetings, she feels hesitant to speak.
“I usually don’t look up when I’m talking because I usually see people rolling their eyes,” she said.@@wow@@ @@This is upsetting, for sure, but is it because you’re black? Or is it because they don’t think you’re good at your job?@@

Although she likes Wise on a personal level, she believes that he set a climate for Senate that isn’t conducive for all members.
“It is unfortunate, but he had a job to do and he didn’t do it,” Mabuya said.
Wise has one week to respond to the grievance and plans on responding.