Though numerous points of contention exist between former
undergraduate government presidential rivals Allende Palma/Saracho
and Josh Lawson, there is one issue that they both agree on: Former
Facilities commissioner Tutram Nguyen made a mistake when she
posted offensive comments on her Web log this week.
The log entry ““ which Nguyen has transferred to a private
folder ““ directed obscenities and insults at a number of
campus figures, including Lawson, the Bruin Democrats and the Daily
Bruin.
Nguyen, too, acknowledges that her post was a mistake but
maintains that the online journal ““ though open to the public
““ is her personal space to vent.
“I recognize as an elected official on council, it was
irresponsible of me to use such harsh language. … Still, I
believe that all students will be able to recognize that it was an
online journal,” Nguyen said, adding that her personal views
do not reflect the views of Students First!.
But on her latest post, Nguyen, who was elected last year under
the SF! slate, does not make an apology for her previous comments,
and states instead that the comments were only meant to be seen by
her friends. The space is “just for me,” she later
said, adding that making the post was an error in judgment but not
something she could retract.
“I take nothing I say back, because this is my personal
space to speak my mind. It is simply protected for my friends
to read to reiterate my point ““ these entries are
written for them and not (for) everyone and their mama,” the
new entry reads.
Palma/Saracho, the new USAC president who was sworn into office
during Tuesday night’s meeting, said Nguyen had a made a
mistake and that it is up to her to apologize, but that he hopes
students understand that she was not making a political
statement.
“It was just a personal response to a difficult and a hard
campaign and a trying year,” Palma/Saracho said.
He added that Nguyen’s “slip up” should not
have been placed on the Internet, as it is not the most
constructive way to discuss council differences.
Lawson, who Nguyen referred to as “MISTER F*CK FACE
LAWSON,” initially said he was not personally offended by the
outgoing councilmember’s comments, but about 20 minutes into
an interview, it became apparent that he has been affected ““
if not by Nguyen’s comments, then by the hostility that has
defined his relationship with a majority of councilmembers this
year.
“You get thick-skinned sitting on council all year,”
Lawson said, but quickly added, “What did I do except for
bringing a different perspective than theirs? … What did I
actually do to them?”
Several councilmembers have said Lawson made no effort to work
with the rest of council or heed its input on different issues.
Still, Lawson said more than taking personal offense to the
insults directed at him, he believes Nguyen’s attacks reflect
the sentiments of her slate.
“If one person is short-sighted enough to put it online,
then how many people are actually thinking these things?”
Lawson said, adding that as an elected official, Nguyen should
apologize to campus.
“She’s been claiming an objective position all
along. … I wish she would’ve been more up front,”
Lawson added, expressing concern that such a councilmember sat on
the Budget Review Committee, which makes funding recommendations to
council.
But, Nguyen said this argument does not have merit because the
base budget allocations were made at the beginning of the year
““ before most of the hostility between Lawson and council
began.
The last meeting of the year underscores Lawson’s
relationship with council, Nguyen said. Council collectively worked
together, “minus Josh,” she said. In the same way,
council thanked each other Tuesday night as they parted ways
““ all of council “minus Josh,” she said
again.