Anyone who attended the “Take Back Campus” forum last Monday should know the ASUO works hard on students’ behalf. Anyone who heard Ryan McCarrel speak out should also realize that he has tapped widespread student perception the ASUO is an organization that engages in political infighting while divvying up the student incidental fee. Less than 20 percent of students voted in the last ASUO election, so clearly McCarrel’s concern over current representation is shared by a good portion of the student body.
As a member of the Sustainability Coalition, I personally had little concept of the ASUO as student representation until ASUO President Emily McLain came to one of our meetings. From that meeting we realized the issue of student empowerment that concerned us as environmental activists was shared by the ASUO and that there were systematic problems with administrative decision-making that cut students out of the process. Although, in the course of organizing this event, I’ve been impressed by the history of the ASUO’s role in student movements on this campus, and gained respect for the efforts of many current representatives, McLain included. Our goal as organizers was to encourage student engagement in general, not exclusively through ASUO.
It was unfortunate that anyone at an open forum would rudely interrupt anyone speaking out. It is only reasonable to think that if the administration should be held accountable by and listen to the student body, then so should the students we elect. McCarrel was greeted with cheers as well as boos. Clearly others in the audience agreed with his concerns over the ASUO. I believe all of us who were in the room share his concern over student apathy.
I hope the conversation surrounding these issues on campus and among youth in general continues to grow. I hope students continue to speak out and, more importantly, act. Unfortunately it is difficult for students to be inspired to action if they see the ASUO, their putative representation on campus, as having little relevance in their lives. The ASUO has, at best, an outreach problem and at worst the tendency to put political maneuvering above leadership.
Regardless, student voice, representation, power and action on campus are topics too large for one student forum and tasks too great for the ASUO alone. It is an issue in the hands of you, me and every other member of the student body.
Emmalyn Garrett is Sustainability Coalition Coordinator and Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living co-director