Well, now I know why I didn’t get |involved in student government earlier on in college. Just look at what my recent decision to take an active role in current election has done for me: I’ve been portrayed as a subservient bitch, been publicly disregarded as a credible voter and I have some extremely awkward rides in the DDS van to look forward to as I finish my last term.
Golly, just imagine all the borderline libel that I could have enjoyed had I participated as a freshman!
Monday’s article in the Emerald (“Party grievance elicits finger-pointing”) states that my decision to file the grievance “may have been influenced” by my boyfriend, ASUO Programs Administrator David Goward. Now, I have many influences in my life: Jerry Seinfeld, Jan Brady and my 10th-grade English teacher, to name a few. However, when it comes down to it, who “may” be influencing me doesn’t count as much as the fact that I am an individual with the intellectual capacity, and freedom, to make my own decisions.
The article concludes by implying that Goward could be punished for not remaining neutral in the elections process. Must I point out that Goward, who was in town the morning the story broke, did in fact abstain from filing a grievance of his own? Any punishment Goward would receive would therefore be a punishment for an act he didn’t commit. Regardless, shouldn’t it be the responsibility of everybody on the student government to ensure the elections process is fair?
I don’t mean to pull a Nick Hudson here, but I was disappointed that nobody from the ASUO filed the grievance first. Whose definition of “neutrality” are we following? Bizarro Superman’s? (Like I said, Seinfeld is an influence of mine.)
While we’re on the topic of “neutrality,” I’d love to point out the hypocrisy of the Emerald in criticizing my complaint against the Dallas Brown and Emily McLain campaign. Isn’t this the same paper that initially reported on the “BIG FAT KEGGER for Dallas and Emily” (“Party promoting Brown-McLain prompts audit,” ODE, April 7), published Brown’s criminal record (“Candidate court records,” ODE, April 7), and erroneously reported that Brown failed to fulfill his duties on the Student Senate (“Audit finds ASUO Senator’s absences were overstated,” ODE, April 3)?
If the Emerald feels the need to blame a theoretically neutral party for influencing my decision to complain, it can credit itself. The Emerald is the same newspaper that consistently encourages active participation in student government. However, I suppose it is much more pleasant for everyone if we all just stick to wearing our neon T-shirts and handing out fliers.
Would it be immature of me to conclude by pointing out that the ASUO Elections board ruled in favor of my grievance? I did the right thing; why are my motives for filing the grievance even relevant? Finally, I’d like to reiterate that Goward had no input on my decision to file the grievance, just in case any readers out there are as brainless as I was portrayed to be.
Evan Stewart is a student at the University.
David Goward didn’t write this letter
Daily Emerald
April 12, 2006
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