Thursday, November 21, 1996
USAC:
Decision spurs controversy surrounding implications of
slogan
By Ryan Ozimek
Daily Bruin Contributor
In a move which angered the undergraduate government, the United
Students Association Judicial Board Chief Justice Eric Mah signed a
five-day restraining order preventing the government from using the
words "Students First!" in connection with the undergraduate
student government.
In what could become a controversial ruling regarding the First
Amendment rights of the student government, the mandate is
temporary until all seven justices can meet Monday for a formal
hearing.
"Effective immediately, the USA Student Council (i.e. the
undergraduate student council) shall cease all official
associations with the name ‘Students First!’," the restraining
order states.
The restraining order came after Mah received and researched a
petition from fourth-year philosophy and political science student
Jeff Ellis, which focused on the undergraduate government’s
involvement with the anti-Proposition 209 campaign and the use of
the name "Students First!"
"I think it’s clear that (the council) shouldn’t have been doing
what they’ve been doing," Ellis said. "They shouldn’t have used the
‘Students First!’ logo for things everyone pays for."
In his petition to the Judicial Board, Ellis wrote that he
believed the way the undergraduate council (USAC) has used the name
"Students First!" has been in direct conflict with the wording of
the Undergraduate Students Association (USA) Constitution’s
preamble, which pledges " … To recognize, represent and support
the diversity of needs and views of students at the
university."
"When they take student money to pay for their logo, do they
think they’re respecting the needs of the whole student body?"
Ellis questioned. "I don’t think so."
But USAC Internal Vice President Glenn Inanaga said that
representing every student’s views is impossible.
"How is it possible for one person to represent every single
diverse view on campus?" Inanaga asked. "I submit that it’s
impossible to represent every diverse view on campus."
While a hearing is scheduled for Monday night, USAC members have
already expressed their anger toward the order.
"How far can the Judicial Board go in restraining the voice of
the student government?" Inanaga asked.
One of USAC’s main arguments against the restraining order is
that they believe the mandate restricts their First Amendment
rights.
"I respect people who disagree with the ideology of ‘Students
First!’, but no one should infringe on our rights to express that
ideology," said USAC President John Du.
Adding to the problem of using the words "Students First!" is
deciphering and defining exactly what the words and the logo
represent.
Ellis said he believed that the name and the logo were used to
represent a specific slate during last year’s election, and that
student money shouldn’t be used to support specific slates.
"I agree that the student government should put students first,
but in a way that respects everyone’s beliefs, not just (the
Council members’) own beliefs," Ellis said.
USAC officials believe that the name isn’t necessarily only a
party or slate name, but instead an ideology that most council
members believe in. "It would be very dangerous for anyone to deny
any student their right to believe in a certain ideology," Du
said.
Inanaga agreed, and said that he didn’t feel the words
represented a party name.
"There’s no reason why we have to state that it’s a political
party," Inanaga contended. "Even if it is (a party name), it’s more
the philosophy that’s the issue."
"If people have a problem with putting students first, who
should we put first?"
But Ellis commented that while he agrees with the student
government putting students first, the government is misusing the
phrase, implying that the ideology is one shared by all
students.
"If they’re saying it’s their ideology, and if they think it’s
everybody’s ideology, they’re wrong," Ellis said. "It’s only a
select group and (Students First!) is a campaign slate."
Another of Ellis’ points is that the use of the ‘Students
First!’ logo will create a bias toward the slate during this year’s
elections, but council members disagreed, noting that using the
logo shouldn’t affect this spring’s campaigns.
"I think it’s a false assumption to believe that because people
see ‘Students First!’ on a pamphlet that that would be a political
move to help any particular side," Du said. "’Students First!’ is
an ideology and a belief and anyone can subscribe to that
ideology."
After signing the restraining order on Tuesday, Mah personally
took down signs reading "Students First!" that were posted on a
bulletin board in front of the USAC President’s office.
Du expressed his discontent with such an action.
"I respect the process in which the Constitution gives the Chief
Justice the right to put a temporary restraining order," Du said.
"However, I disagree with his action, the physical act of depriving
someone the right to express themselves, and I think it’s very
dangerous for our Chief Justice to deny people the people the right
to express their views."
The Judicial Board will convene at 9 p.m. on Monday in Kerckhoff
152 to rule on the petition.