Dear Editor,

I am writing to you primarily regarding Guest Columnist Luke Perrin’s op-ed “Madame President, curb your nepotism,” but would also like to reference News Editor Mary Dare Martin’s current Top Story “SBP appoints partner for Board of Elections chair.”

As Student Senate President, I am bound to an Oath of Office and the Student Government Mission Statement, which urge me to uphold and preserve the Student Body Constitution. To the present and future student leaders of the Student Senate, this is a nod at the role the Student Senate President must play in protecting the integrity and interpretation of our rules. This session has called upon the Senate President to interpret rules of punitive powers, lines of succession, open meeting laws and, now, the Board of Elections.

With the resignation of Board of Elections Chair Emeritus Anna Yarbrough came another instance of having to dust off the trusty rules and read into what proper procedures must take place. Unfortunately, our rules provide little in defining a timeline for such a vacancy, yet are clear in the “who” and the “how.”

I was grateful to Student Body President Gonzalez, who unconditionally utilized me and our SG Advisers to ensure transparency and ethical decision making in her appointment, especially with the abnormal technicality that this specific appointment must come by way of executive order.

With the exception of signing my own name next to President Gonzalez, I have been afforded all opportunities to effectively counsel and direct this appointment process while upholding the full extent of our governing documents, which is something that she has been transparent about. Furthermore, if our counseling advisers and Senate procedures are not enough, President Gonzalez has willingly given the Senate Committee on Appointments access to review her appointment.

So what is to be said about the ethics of this appointment? Applicants Justin Lindemann and Jeremy Miller opted to no longer be considered for the position — appointing either of them knowing this would be pragmatically unethical. Applicant Adam Skrzecz had not and still has not divested his public support of a potential SBP-SBVP candidacy, which violates rule (c) of Chapter 6,  Article 2, Section 3 of the Student Body Documents — appointing him would be statutorily unethical.

My advice to President Gonzalez was not by way of process of elimination, but that of supporting the most viable applicant regardless of personal affiliation. This advice was matched by our staff advisers and the process has been fully documented for review by the Senate Committee on Appointments.

Misogyny in our Student Government goes back to our founding years. In 1930, the then-entirely-male Student Government voted against the establishment of the Women’s Student Government, to “ignore the action of the women and subject them to the same rules that govern all State students individually.” More direct and authentic communication – not political undermining and rule bending – is called upon for Student Government to get to work. Senators continuing this disproportionate critiquing of women in leadership fail to serve all students. I conclude favorably with Guest Columnist Perrin – I hope that this matter of unusual business exemplifies that we absolutely cannot continue business as usual.

Sincerely,

Mitchell Moravec

97th Session Student Senate President

Mitchell Moravec is a fifth-year studying materials science and engineering and psychology and is the current Student Senate president.

* Editor’s note: This column has been edited to include context about the history of women leadership in Student Government.