Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Shame, shame, I know your name

Regardless of whether or not Ms. Gilbert is the best person for the job, I've been a little dismayed to see the heat she has taken for her decision last week to send Her Majesty's impeachment to the Senate as a whole.

Convenient for Reilly, really. While Gilbert is out making tough decisions, Reilly is deciding between jimmy johns and pizza for an event. That's not to say that Eli hasn't done an excellent job as VP for Programming--he has, but the point is, it's easy not to piss people off when that's as rough as it gets.

Not to mention, Shane, Cabrera, Anderson, and McDonald voted the same way Gilbert did...why is she the only one that's taking shit for it? Is it because she is supposed to look out for her fellow women?

What I find even more disconcerting are the scare tactics being employed by she-who-must-not-be-named and her posse (i.e. the VPCO). The Senator's are smart enough to make a decision on their own. Trying to coerce and pressure them into not impeaching your "girl" only shows how scared you all are of this very unlikely outcome.

Have some faith in the process and the Senate. Ragsdale's behavior should not go unpunished, but no one is going to impeach her.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ms. Gilbert is the only one taking shit for this? Did I miss something? Does nobody read the Sagebrush anymore?

Anonymous said...

She is taking heat because she agreed to follow in the footsteps of Senator McDonald, and she is taking heat because the type of behavior he shows his fellow students is reprehensible.

Granted, she would have gotten bad press either way: it was either "stick by your girl" chauvinistic press, which is irrelevant and silly, or "you didn't stand up for a fellow student who does her best for the ASUN" press, which is much more irreversible. Real leaders think for themselves, and are willing to stand up for what they believe in. Real leaders aren't manipulated by Sean McDonald, and aren't afraid of having him for an enemy if it means doing what's right.

If you want Eli's opinion, I suggest that you ask him for it. I would be interested to see what he has to say on this issue as well. If his response doesn't show integrity and compassion towards his fellow student, then maybe I'll take a look at this Matt Fries character.

-Trevor Hartzell
Senator, College of Liberal Arts
Campaign Manager, Reilly/Todd '08

Anonymous said...

Talk about a blatant abuse of executive power and authority on the part of Maria. Explain to me why this is okay!

Anonymous said...

Trevor Hartzell,
TISK TISK! You should know better. If you want to talk about real leaders let us set the facts straight. REAL LEADERS don't care if Sean McDonald is an enemy. In fact, REAL LEADERS are the ones that are not afraid to stand up to Sarah and Maria.

Anonymous said...

From the Sagebrush to the unanimous vote that indefinitely postponed the impeachment, I would say the students have spoken.

Conduct committee, for all of you out there trying to duck the heat on this one (Carmen, Justin, Michael) know your shit next time, get familiar with censures and let the punishment fit the crime. Taylor, you should have known better, but at least you listened to your consituency's will.

Meanwhile, Flipside Programming and Sarah prepare for the "Strength of the Pack" Rally to help students cope with the loss of a loved one. Nice touch with the Jimmy John's comment though, that was really respectful of what the help they're offering to the students during this time of need.

Anonymous said...

What does the Strength of the Pack rally have to do with the impeachment case?! If anyone should be condemned, it's the people who try to tie a tragedy in the community to something that is totally unrelated.

Anonymous said...

As Carmen Gilbert’s friend and campaign manager, I find it necessary to refute several of Mr. Hartzell’s fallacious comments. Despite what Mr. Hartzell says, Ms. Gilbert is an exceptional leader who possesses the ability to stand up for what she believes is right at all costs.

I can honestly say that after 2 years of being involved in ASUN presidential campaigns and having been intimately involved in ASUN politics for 3 years, I have never known a leader to be so legitimately concerned about students and so willing to do what it takes to change the status quo. I constantly ask the student leaders around me what motivates them and have found that many student leaders are not in ASUN for the right reasons.

Ms. Gilbert, on the other hand, is extremely involved in a number of important clubs and organizations on campus. She works with students every day. She donates her time, her energy, and her existence as a student on this campus to improve the quality of every student’s experience. It is rare that you find a person who is stronger in their convictions, more willing to fight for issues that matter to students, or more in touch with what students care about than Carmen Gilbert.

While I know Carmen considers Mr. McDonald a friend, she is in no way “follow[ing] in the footsteps of Senator McDonald,” “manipulated by Sean McDonald,” or “afraid of having him for an enemy.” Nor is Ms. Gilbert failing to “stand up for a fellow student who does her best for the ASUN.” These statements are fallacious and, very simply, immature.

Ms. Gilbert has made decisions, difficult decision, based upon what she knows to be right, despite offending the majority. It is because of this that Carmen Gilbert will make an excellent ASUN President.

I must admit that I find it exceptionally unfortunate that negative campaigning has begun so early. I have great respect for Ms. Gilbert’s opponents, and I believe the race is between some very qualified individuals. Nevertheless, I encourage all of you to vote for the person who cares the most and who will do the most for students--Carmen Gilbert.

Sincerely,

Kaitlin Brush
Campaign Manager
Carmen Gilbert for ASUN President

Anonymous said...

I was never even approached by any member of the Exec, much less coerced into supporting the President. It is offensive to me to write my opinion off as "campaigning" or "coercion".

I ran on a platform of accountability. Accountability for my own actions, to speak on behalf of my consituency, and to do my best for the ASUN. Accountability when it comes to signing my name to a document, because as a Senator I believe it is morally reprehensible to slander and promulgate this system of dirty politics, whether it's "legal" or not. I appreciate that we can see eye to eye on that matter, and hope to spark the change on this forum. This is a destructive pretense to operate under.

I attached my title of Campaign Manager because it should be known, but my duties and actions are as a Senator. The candidates' messages speak for themselves.

I was relieved at Wednesday's meeting to find out that many Senators on the committee had overlooked the possibility of censure; it restored faith in some of my colleagues that I have grown so fond of throughout the year. I stand firm, however, in my belief that impeachment proceedings would have been contrary to the will of students and the atmosphere of the ASUN. Please feel free to e-mail me at SenatorHartzell@asun.unr.edu.

Respectfully,
Trevor Hartzell
Senator, College of Liberal Arts
Campaign Manager, Reilly/Todd '08