A branch of student government has officially opposed the University’s plan to sell Westmoreland apartments, some of the cheapest housing available for students, but the opposition wasn’t unanimous, and student government members debated over the repercussions of doubting the University’s vow to relocate residents.
The resolution is a replica of one passed unanimously by students, faculty and staff members at the University Senate meeting in January.
Student Senator Toby Piering introduced the resolution with some urgency to the Student Senate because student leaders heading to Portland State University on Thursday wanted to present the resolution to the Oregon University System board. ASUO leaders have been lobbying to oppose the University’s proposed sale of Westmoreland since the sale plans were announced in October.
The issue has caught the attention of faculty and student government leaders, who said they felt left out of the planning process, as well as Democratic Oregon Rep. Bob Ackerman, who announced in early December that he would help the Save Wesmoreland Coalition.
The plan to sell Westmoreland has also caused an uproar from residents of the 404-unit complex, who have argued that selling the property would impact diversity on campus because it houses many graduate and nontraditional students and students with families.
Of the 14 senators to vote on the resolution, one senator, Kyle McKenzie, voted against it. Senator Dallas Brown abstained from voting. Senate President Stephanie Erickson, who usually votes only to break a tie, supported the resolution.
Piering said he didn’t understand why McKenzie opposed the resolution, but he said in the end there’s not a vote attached to the resolution so it still represents the Senate voice.
McKenzie voted against it because he agreed with Brown, who said the University has no intention of harming students and the $15 million to $18 million in profit would go to construction of additional student housing.
“A lot of the actions that have taken place lately are conspiracy theories,” McKenzie said, “making (University President Dave) Frohnmayer and administrators look like bad people.”
He said he trusts that the money will go to additional housing.
“I believe that students should be involved in debate on campus,” Brown said, “but there’s some things that you can’t have a big group deciding on (because) there’s just too much bureaucracy.”
Several senators argued that the University administration didn’t include students or faculty before announcing its plans and that campus diversity would be affected by the sale.
Senate Ombudsman and ASUO President-elect Jared Axelrod urged senators to vote in favor of the resolution because, unlike recent presentations given on the diversity plan and grade inflation at the University, administrators didn’t come to Senate asking for feedback about Westmoreland. He reminded senators that the resolution opposed the administration’s planning process, not necessarily the sale itself.
“Saying we don’t know enough, that’s not a legitimate reason to oppose the resolution,” Axelrod said. “What we do know is that it will affect students.”
Although she is not entirely opposed to the resolution, Senate Vice President Sara Hamilton voiced her hesitancy to resist the administration because, she said, “it’s not a fight we can win.”
“When they make a decision that they want to do something, there’s not a lot that can change that,” she said.
“Should I not vote because I know my vote’s not going tocount?” Piering asked. “I’m not afraid of a fight. We shouldn’t give up because we’re going against overwhelming odds.”
The Senate changed its rules at the end of winter term to allow “issue resolutions.” Now the body can voice its opinion on issues that aren’t directly related to the incidental fee. With the changes, resolutions are the only way Senate can take a stance.
Official Senate letters and memorandums are now prohibited.
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