The ASUO has often been criticized as a detached body, insulated in debate and separated from some of the concerns of quote-unquote ordinary students. But as much as that seemed to be the case last year, we have seen flashes of the opposite so far this year.
On the Presidency
ASUO President Ben Eckstein gave a speech at University convocation this year that encouraged students, but also gave them a dose of reality that isn’t always found at these sorts of events.
“The real learning of a college education takes place when we question what we are told, not when we blindly accept it,” Eckstein said in his address. “I challenge you to open your minds at every moment to experiences outside your own and to question the perspectives, the prejudices and the fears you bring with you to this campus. This is a difficult process but an inevitable one, and the benefits it will reap have no bounds.”
While still a bit abstract, this is the kind of advice that students can use to set a goal for their years here.
On Senate
At Tuesday’s senate meeting, all but one of the filled senate seats were in attendance for the non-regularly scheduled meeting. All attendees verbally participated during the evening, even as the hours wore on.
During those discussions, the senate eventually passed a $30,850 special request from the Holden Leadership Center to support alternative breaks to Peru, India and Guatemala for more than 30 University students.
HLC’s request was a large one, but it was one that will directly impact students’ cultural awareness and be a blueprint for the kinds of things we like to see the ASUO supporting.
And we would be remiss to not mention the work done to attract students to senate meetings through the new public comment session.
Looking forward
It is not going too far to say that there has been tension in student government over the last few years. The topics of the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) and student autonomy with regard to the administration have created stark differences resulting in a harsh atmosphere for some that scared away “regular students.” @@says who?@@
But the developments we’re seeing from authentic attempts at connecting with freshmen — and students in general — are a start in the right direction, and we encourage this development.
On Tuesday, Cedar Cosner was confirmed as the ASUO’s election coordinator. He and four others will be running elections for the ASUO this fall and spring. His inexperience in the student government’s operation was the topic of questioning throughout the confirmation, but it was what he cited as a strength for his job.
“I don’t expect to solve everything (with the elections process) . . . I will definitely do my best,” Cosner said.
There will still be debate, there will still be tension and there will still be the wonks who get into those kinds of things. But here’s to hoping that Cedar — and the rest of the ASUO — will follow through on doing their best.