What is the Role of the AUSA Senate? I write this editorial to provoke the emotions of my colleagues and my peers to ensure the continuance of an activist student Senate that will advance the general welfare of the undergraduate student body of the University of Denver. I also write this editorial to refute a few points made about the role of the AUSA Senate by previous editorials. To begin, the role of the AUSA Senate is to speak politically for the majority of undergraduates and when necessary contradict that majority to do what is right and just to advance the general welfare and common good.
Contrary to what Ms. Slosberg argues in her editorial on Sept. 26, every decision made is political because by nature the Senate is a political body. Whether the Senate decides to allocate $500 to support the prevention of sexual assault on campus or raise student activity fee to allocate more money to student organizations such as the science club, every decision has political implications.
For her to contend also that the Senate should represent the whole student body and poll students on every issue is unrealistic. It is unrealistic because the Senate can never make a decision that will be supported by 100 percent of undergraduates and neither does every senator have time to reach out to every individual and seek their opinion on an issue.
If it were the responsibility of Senate to fulfill these requirements there is no need for a Senate for what Ms. Slosberg calls for is better emulated in form of student government based on direct democracy. If Ms. Slosberg truly believes in her argument then every undergraduate should be required to attend Senate meetings on Tuesdays in Driscoll Gallery at 6 p.m. Furthermore the role of the Senate is not only limited to on-campus issues and allocating the student activity fee.
If it were, as Mr. McGahey argues, then we are essentially closing ourselves off from our surrounding community and civic responsibilities. If Mr. McGahey truly wishes Senate to only be limited to address on-campus issues then surely the Senate should not be working to service students living off-campus and neither should Senate support any student organization that affects issues off-campus, such as the College Republicans.
Essentially what has been forgotten by Ms. Slosberg and Mr. McGahey in their editorials is that Referendum I affects many DU students who are currently being treated as second class citizens in Colorado. Senators who voted in favor of Resolution 1 A chose to advance the welfare of the undergraduate body by ensuring every undergraduate has the same rights here in Colorado because it was the right thing to do.
If it is not the Senates responsibility to do the right thing and advance the general welfare of the undergraduate body, what is Mr. McGahey? There are and will always be different ideas about what the role of the Senate is. I strongly believe that it is Senates obligation to do what ever it can to advance the welfare of undergraduates no matter how small a gesture it may be, such as supporting a Colorado ballot initiative, as long as it will positively affect students at DU. If I am wrong then surely, as Mr. McGahey contends, I will be voted out of office next year. The only odd thing about Mr. McGahey’s contention is that I have campaigned twice on advancing a liberal activist senate and have yet to run opposed.Kelsey Yamasaki AUSA Senator: 2005-Present
