The editorial board of The Heights encourages students to elect Luke Howe and Ben Nauman to the positions of president and vice president of the UGBC.
The decision over which campaign to endorse was not an easy one. It forced our editorial board to debate at length over what students have grown to expect from the UGBC and where the student government should go in the future.
It is the belief of The Heights that Howe and Nauman are best prepared for the challenges that the UGBC face. At first glance, they would seem to be the status quo; that is, there is nothing different in their campaign that voters aren't exposed to during every other UGBC election. Their platform, however, contains mainly realistic goals that will help improve the everyday lives of students.
Reena Parikh and Nick Fuller-Googins' platform focuses on four areas: student power, women's rights, racial justice, and gay rights. No where does the campaign present tangible ideas pertaining to the everyday issues that students look to the UGBC for. Only two lines of the Parikh/Fuller-Googins platform addresses these matters. "We are aware that many students would like to know how we will carry out the student life initiatives the UGBC traditionally is responsible for, from service opportunities, concerts, dances, and other programs. We would like to ensure the student body that if elected, Reena and Nick will work to continue these UGBC traditions and foster new and creative ideas throughout the upcoming year."
That statement does absolutely nothing to assure the student body that Parikh and Fuller-Googins would improve student life by addressing the little things, such as the needed renovation of McElroy, the growing demand for more performance space, the necessity to bolster school spirit as the University enters the ACC, and more.
What they did let the student body know, however, was that they would act as strong advocates of those they believe are underrepresented and under-protected at BC - women, those of AHANA descent, and members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.
It is important that the University recognize the individuality and value of all of its members. The Heights believes that everyone has a place at BC, and that all students should work toward creating an environment where everyone feels respected.
But Parikh/Fuller-Googins' sole focus on those issues makes it appear as if Howe/Nauman have absolutely no understanding of the matters.
Debate rhetoric and campus dialogue among friends centered on whether or not Howe and Nauman would work for the end of inequalities at BC. The Heights believes they would. Their platform addresses the need for increasing the power and legitimacy of the AHANA Leadership Council, the need to advocate on behalf of GLBT students, and the importance of women's issues.
Parikh and Fuller-Googins are passionate about issues of inequality and social justice, but it is The Heights' fear that their ideas may not represent the thoughts of all BC students. That is not to say that the campus doesn't see diversity as a problem, rather it suggests that the views of their campaign may be out of touch with the average student. The creation of a "reproductive rights coalition," for example, would go wholeheartedly against the mission of the University.
The Heights is also concerned with the methods that Parikh and Fuller-Googins would use to achieve their goals. In September 2004, Fuller-Googins was placed on University probation for protesting the presence of weapons manufacturer Raytheon at the career fair. Together with several other members of the Global Justice Project, Fuller-Googins distributed anti-Raytheon pamphlets while kneeling in front of the weapons distributor's table. When asked by Dean of Student Development Robert Sherwood to leave the career fair, the protesters (Fuller-Googins included) refused.
Fuller-Googins said that he would do it all over again, even if elected UGBC vice president. While his dedication is admirable, it would be embarrassing for a high-ranking student representative to act in such an abrasive manner. Moreover, the UGBC president and vice president work hand-in-hand with Sherwood and his office, which Fuller-Googins has showed he has little respect for.
The UGBC president and vice president need to represent the student body to the administration in a responsible way. While the two sides don't - and shouldn't - always agree, it would be detrimental for students to have leaders that have such a flagrant disregard for University officials. Parikh, in her meeting with The Heights editorial board, even "accidentally" referred to the administration as the "opponents."
Howe and Nauman would work with University administrators in a way that would help get things accomplished. Howe, who has previously served as UGBC chief of staff and now is executive director of student life, has already established strong ties with campus officials.
Their platform lists a number of sensible projects that could be easily implemented with the help of the administration. We cannot overstate the need for the UGBC to have an amicable working relationship with the University. Unfortunately, the system is set up in such manner that without the support of campus officials little can be completed.
It should be clear that the president and vice president should not be lackeys to the administration. They shouldn't appease University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., for example, if they believe that his management is damaging to the student body. But in affirming their unhappiness with him, they should be sure that they are acting with the support of the students - their constituents.
At times, it appeared that Howe and Nauman were sitting on the fence on what they thought to be divisive issues. If elected, they shouldn't worry about saying the right things. They should be worried about standing up for what they believe in, and The Heights has faith that they will do just that.
The student body needs a president and vice president that is approachable and will get things done. At the end of the day, the Howe/Nauman campaign presents a platform that is attainable and beneficial to students' quality of life.
Their proposal for making legal counsel available to students is superb, especially given the struggles that off campus residents have with landlords (and the occasional run-in with the Boston Police). The Heights also believes in their ideas to empower the Senate, as well as the team's commitment to the creation of a 24-hour study space.
Students will appreciate other points on their platform, such as the resurrection of the fall concert, the push for more campus performance space, the funding of more immersion and service trips, and their idea for better representation of student clubs and organizations.
Howe/Nauman's plan for reworking the language requirement, however, needs to be reconsidered. Replacing language classes with cultural diversity courses doesn't help fulfill the same purpose. While The Heights supports the creation of more culturally infused courses and the need to examine the core, it does not fully agree with the idea that students should have a choice of four semesters of a language or four semesters of internationally oriented classes. It is important that students have at least a basic idea of how to communicate in a language other than English.
Perhaps the team should consider proposing that the College of Arts and Sciences adopt a requirement similar to that of the Carroll School of Management, where students who took four years of a language in high school are exempt from taking language courses at BC.
While The Heights support the idea that everyone has a place on campus, it is a concern that Parikh/Fuller-Googins would represent more of what they want rather than what the average student wants.
Howe/Nauman's emphasis on improving the little things that make a difference in our everyday lives makes them a more viable team. Because they haven't lost sight of the bigger issues (such as cultural diversity and the need for advocacy on behalf of the GLBT community) and have pledged to work on the smaller ones, The Heights believes the student body should vote for Howe/Nauman in this year's UGBC elections.
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