I've been at ASU for almost four years now. During that period, I've been able to unravel many of this school's mysteries.
I'm better at negotiating the red tape you have to cut through to get anything done around here; I usually talk to only three or four people before I find the ones who can do what I need them to.
Still, one aspect of life at this fine University confuses me to no end. Despite my many attempts, I still can't seem to figure out what our student government is supposed to do. Currently, the Associated Students of ASU has an excellent opportunity to defend students' most basic interests. For reasons that strike me as bizarre and unintelligible, our sworn defenders look as if they just might take a pass.
On Tuesday, ASASU decided for a second time to postpone taking any sort of stand on the draconian new code of conduct proposed by University administrators. This policy, more than any other, might have truly dire consequences for students and their basic rights.
Apparently, ASU President Michael Crow has grown tired of simply picking a scapegoat when students here do something embarrassing. Now, he wants a specific rule with wording that would give him unlimited authority to punish those involved in extracurricular activities when they do things that offend his morals, or, more importantly, the morals of those he hopes will give the University giant wads of cash.
Still, at least Crow has some reason to see this policy enacted, however self-serving that reason might be. So far as I can tell, ASASU has no reason to support it. With wording so vague, the potential for the University to punish students for engaging in constitutionally protected activities is extremely high.
Maybe Crow still doesn't realize that he's left Columbia and now presides over a public university. Crow was once the executive vice provost at a university that could enact whatever speech codes or conduct codes it deemed appropriate to keep students in line. But this is a public institution, and things are different here.
ASU's administration does not have the authority to do as it pleases so people will never get offended, and that is a good thing. Even if Crow can't figure that out, our democratically elected student representatives should know better. I know many members of ASASU have spoken out against the new code, and I commend them for doing their job.
As for the members of ASASU that either support this code of conduct or lack the backbone to take a stand against the administration, they really ought to resign. If their goal is to defend students' rights at this University, they could not possibly support or remain silent on these new rules.
Crow and his supporters are so concerned with how the University is perceived that he risks forgetting about the beast itself instead of the one that exists as a vague perception in the minds of potential donors. He has a commitment is to us, just as ASASU's does.
Everybody wants ASU to be showered with money from wealthy old people who want to preserve their legacies by getting a building, college or chair named after them. But no desire to improve our reputation can ever take the place of ensuring a vibrant campus community where certain freedoms are held above reproach.
Otherwise, we might as well not have a student government at all. That way, our officials could return to their respective fraternity/sorority houses, start making videos and give us all at least one thing we might find useful.
Benjamin Thelen is a philosophy and political science senior. Reach him at benjamin.thelen@asu.edu.