The current situation facing the Associated Students of University Utah carries with it many complexities relating to the nature of government. During the next few weeks many questions will be answered, including whether or not our elected officials deserve a pay increase.
Another question regarding whether or not the current General Assembly and the administration have been working in an ethical manner should also be posed.
Yet the greater question at hand will not be answered by ASUU President Adrian Johnson, or former Assembly members Aaron Titus or Jeff Neu. The real question relates to the integrity of the system and those who choose to work in it.
The real test of the players involved in the pending appeal is how they will choose to define the system. Some may argue that this is somewhat of an overstatement-however, much is at stake here.
Now is a sensitive time for relations between ASUU and students. Many students have questioned the ways in which their student fees have been allocated in the past. Indeed, this was a major topic during student elections this past spring.
Those involved with the current appeal must ensure that the decision that is made is not only legitimate and legal, but also fair.
The students of the U deserve to feel that their ever-so-sacred student fees are used properly. In this time of tuition hikes, there is little room for wasteful spending.
The current situation reflects the growing feeling around campus that ASUU is a wasteful organization and merely serves as a glorified club of the elite.
Although these sentiments may not be true, it is nonetheless a dynamic that the members of the current administration and Assembly must take into account. They must show students that they are working in their best interest.
The current situation provides ASUU the opportunity to display itself as a legitimate and integral part of the U community. The only way to do this is to do what is best for the student body.
If the president and the vice president need a pay increase, then by all means they should get one.
If members of the Assembly feel that business was not conducted in an ethical manner, then an appeal should absolutely be filed.
Regardless of what answers emerge concerning the situation at hand, the bottom line for ASUU is this: Show the student body that you are not just “playing” government and wasting money. Show the students that you are working for them.