2008 Woodie Awards
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Student government has become childish and unprofessional
Letter to the editor
I for one am tired of how childish and partisan issues have become on this campus. An argument that originally had to do with the VFSA's budget expanded into personal attacks and childish bickering. Most recently in the Feb. 28 issue of the Emerald, Kaila Carty wrote how "appalled" she was to hear Senator Diego Hernandez call out PFC Chairman Jacob Brennan (who just happens to be her boyfriend) for making sexist, racist and oppressive comments during meetings. Since when did standing up against white patriarchy become "vulgar?"
In fact, Carty's biggest argument is that she thinks herself a feminist (somehow implying Brennan isn't sexist) and that Senator Hernandez's actions show a lack of "camaraderie" for his fellow senators. Am I missing something here? I for one applaud Senator Hernandez for speaking out against bigots and not worrying about how popular he'll be for doing so. I'm sure Brennan has a black friend too, but this doesn't excuse his behavior and oppressive language; and it certainly doesn't mean he's not a racist.
I think PFC Vice-Chair Mei Li Yu's petty comment that it was "not only immature but irrelevant" for Sen. Hernandez to bring up such complaints, really shows the lack of character, integrity and respectability that the ASUO has to offer. I find Mei Li's willingness to be an advocate for what's best for communities of color particularly interesting due to her overall lack of cultural competency. With elections around the corner, we as a campus community should demand greater accountability, cultural competence and professionalism out of our representatives, because at the present there really is none.
Zach Basaraba
University student
In fact, Carty's biggest argument is that she thinks herself a feminist (somehow implying Brennan isn't sexist) and that Senator Hernandez's actions show a lack of "camaraderie" for his fellow senators. Am I missing something here? I for one applaud Senator Hernandez for speaking out against bigots and not worrying about how popular he'll be for doing so. I'm sure Brennan has a black friend too, but this doesn't excuse his behavior and oppressive language; and it certainly doesn't mean he's not a racist.
I think PFC Vice-Chair Mei Li Yu's petty comment that it was "not only immature but irrelevant" for Sen. Hernandez to bring up such complaints, really shows the lack of character, integrity and respectability that the ASUO has to offer. I find Mei Li's willingness to be an advocate for what's best for communities of color particularly interesting due to her overall lack of cultural competency. With elections around the corner, we as a campus community should demand greater accountability, cultural competence and professionalism out of our representatives, because at the present there really is none.
Zach Basaraba
University student
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
swilsey
Steven Wilsey
posted 2/29/08 @ 2:17 AM PST
The question remains: If Diego thought racist, sexist and homophobic remarks were being made, why didn't he say anything at the time? If what he is saying were true, that would mean he allowed those things to occur for almost an entire term. (Continued…)
Oscar Guerra
posted 2/29/08 @ 9:11 AM PST
Steven, you as a white person can not tell or expect people of color to point out to racist individuals every time they have used racist, sexist, homophobic, language or any other time they have contributed to racism. (Continued…)
Mei Li Yu
posted 2/29/08 @ 1:09 PM PST
The point is not that people within the ASUO are supporting Brennan's racist, sexist, and homophobic comments and that we are just plainly 'appalled' by Diego's commentary. (Continued…)
Sean
posted 2/29/08 @ 3:08 PM PST
Meili, I would be enraged that someone like Basaraba is calling YOU culturally incompetent.
What a presumptuous and arrogant thing to say to anyone.
Steven Wilsey
posted 2/29/08 @ 3:27 PM PST
To respond to Oscar...
You are absolutely right. I am white and cannot accurately reflect on remarks concerning race, but I do believe I have EVERY right to say what I saw happen. (Continued…)
Derek Nix
posted 2/29/08 @ 4:22 PM PST
All I have to say is that this letter was very childish and unprofessional on your part. I am wondering if you have ever sat in on a PFC meeting because I was there for over half. (Continued…)
thollemb
Tom
posted 3/02/08 @ 10:59 AM PST
The only thing I agree with from this article is the title. For the 4+ years I have been at UO, the past three have had some sort of crazy drama inside the ASUO Govt. (Continued…)
Timothy
posted 3/02/08 @ 9:54 PM PST
Has become? Somebody just fell off the turnip truck.
Phil
posted 3/03/08 @ 12:14 AM PST
"I plan to make the ASUO professional once again and eliminate these dialogues that have hidden political meaning."
Ha! Exactly when was the ASUO professional?
Tim
posted 3/03/08 @ 2:02 AM PST
Politics is for attention whores and drama queens.
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