The Associated Students of CSU is made up of students that are elected and appointed to represent the voice of the student body. Not only are they an important organization that advocates for student needs, they also provide a lot of essential, real-world experience for CSU students interested in government.
Recently, however, it was discovered that ASCSU’s chief of staff is only taking one credit at CSU after graduating in the fall 2012, in violation of Article VII, Section 703 of the organization’s constitution, which requires that all elected or appointed members of ASCSU remain full-time students throughout the tenure of their appointment.
Ad
He’s described as an indispensable part of student government’s team –– the backbone of one of the most powerful student groups at CSU that helps keep the $1.9 million operation running. The unsung hero. The problem solver. The one you’d want to have in your corner when all hell breaks loose.
But that doesn’t mean he’s above the constitution. And it states in no uncertain terms that he does not qualify for the position of ASCSU chief of staff.
The student government Supreme Court is responsible for enforcing the constitution, but can only do so if an individual brings it to their attention by filing the necessary paperwork. It is incumbent upon responsible members of student government to do just that. To ignore a blatant violation of the ASCSU constitution would be tantamount to breaking a contract with students, who pay you $70 in student fees every year with the expectation that you govern according to its laws.
Why should constituents pay taxes to a government that chooses to follow some rules and not others?
Ask yourself that very question, CSU. Because in the end, as they so verbosely proclaim, this is “YOUR” student government. And if they won’t govern themselves, then maybe you should do it for them.
