There’s no doubt that it’s been a tough year for the Student Union. Handed a slew of resignations throughout the year, the Executive Board was left with a gaping hole and, as evidenced by the voter turnout, a lack of credibility and student interest.
There’s also no doubt the Union contributed to the Boston University community. They spun into motion a serious administrative look into the Teaching Fellow program — something other E-boards have worked on fruitlessly. In addition, numerous proposals, including the seeking of cable TV and an amendment to the non-discrimination clause, have been brought to BU officials.
Those are serious, legitimate achievements, and should at this point in the year be the spotlight of Senate meetings and brought to the attention of the student body. But that’s not what’s happening.
Instead, allegations, mudslinging and a campaign to remove Executive Vice President-elect Marshalee Ducille have taken over the Union’s time and attention, eclipsing all the positive contributions they have recently made. It is now in the hands of the Tribunal and the Union’s adviser whether or not Ducille’s impeachment charges — which she avoided by resigning — will carry over to her position next year.
It should be noted that the impeachment proposal did not come from the entire E-board — it came from one Senator and is supported by a number of others. Several E-board members have asserted their opposition against matters like impeachment the focal point of the end of the year. But, nevertheless, some people have persisted in a counter-productive impeachment effort.
Essentially, those who support the effort to oust Ducille from a position she has yet to take are seeking to endow the incoming Union with the same chaos that has plagued this year’s E-board. Way to serve the students.
If a person is such a perceived detriment to the E-board, then why weren’t these concerns brought to the attention of the Senate long before or even during elections so that students could make an informed decision? Why impeach an E-board member with only two weeks left in the end of the semester? Are the best interests of the students being served or are personal agendas being furthered?
The Student Union has been a resource for students this year, and it is a shame that rather than moving forward and tying up the year’s loose ends, their efforts are overshadowed by a inflammatory afterthought.
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