When a prominent slate of the undergraduate student government
lost one of its leaders last week, the slate’s very existence
was questionable.
But after Josh Lawson, a general representative for the
Undergraduate Students Association Council, announced last week his
separation from his former slate ““ Students United for Reform
and Equality ““ the remaining members of the slate said they
feel confident about S.U.R.E.’s viability. Slates are
coalitions of students that hold similar ideologies and form to win
seats on council.
“S.U.R.E. is at a crossroads, and after this, we will
emerge stronger,” said Amy Lucas, a fifth-year engineering
student who ran for office under the slate in the spring.
Lucas said she is continuing her work with S.U.R.E. this year
and believes in their founding principle of equal access.
“I can’t lose faith,” said Gideon Baum, a
leader of S.U.R.E. and former internal vice presidential candidate
under the slate. Baum is also president of the Jewish Student
Union.
Though Baum said he was saddened by Lawson’s departure, he
still believes the slate has the strength to continue representing
students on council.
Baum said S.U.R.E. will continue fighting to improve the
allocation of student government funds, to update bylaws, and to
reform the way student government is run.
Lawson said he still agrees with the original principles
S.U.R.E. stood for when it was first created, which were geared
toward making council more representative of students on
campus.
But now the slate “has lost its vision and willingness to
take on issues,” Lawson said.
Disagreement between the two leaders arose concerning the
philosophy of student government.
Baum believed some of Lawson’s moral principles would
isolate and embitter people. An example is Lawson’s view on
homosexuality, Baum said. Lawson said he believes in equal rights
but maintains that homosexuality is a personal choice.
But beyond moral differences, Lawson said his decision was based
on the slate becoming more politicized.
He added that the slate should not merely exist to counter the
Students First! slate, the current dominant slate on council that
accounts for eight of 13 councilmembers.
Both Baum and Lawson said they have not yet made the decision to
run for a council seat next year.
The S.U.R.E. slate was created in 2000 ““ one of its
founders being former USAC President David Dahle. The slate won two
council seats the next year and peaked in its representation on the
table during the 2002-2003 council term with five members.
Since then, the slate has slowly decreased in its representation
on council, with members either resigning from USAC or cutting
their ties with the slate.
Only one member of the slate has a voice and a vote on council:
Financial Supports Commissioner Erica Husse.
Husse said she will not hesitate to voice her opinions when she
disagrees with the rest of council.
“I’m going to speak my mind (at the table), … but
its not worth students time or money to be bickering, especially
when I’m the only one from S.U.R.E.,” Husse said.