Show u Egg I So what the ASCEU constitution is a straw dog? Freshman seminar if by Cameron Allcott staff writer caused a legal uproar? If any major project happens to be in the agenda we always check the legal ramifications of the activity I do not belive he is giving the ASCEU members enough credit for intcllegcnce The problem with Maxfield’s reasoning is that he assumes we are completely independent That is not the case ASCEU is overseen by the administration The greatest impact to this is at worst a bureaucratic mess Besides only ASCEU President Craig Knott has any voting power in the administration How tyrannical can ASCEU be? Moving on to the office of the ombudsman he indicates that the I will ombudsman is described as some sort of I concede the fact that my office is rather overstated since cannot possibly know the laws of the state but how does that constitute a failure of the constitution? I am supposed to deal with the rights of the student concerning school policy but the policy and procedures manual includes some aspects of state law as the questions of violation occur 1 Ic then moves on to the lack of the oath of office Why should we take an oath? Is there some reason why an oath is necessary? Fortunately at our age we have not been corrupted by the abuse of power which allows us to act in a way which is at least minutely rational Does there need to be some elaborate ceremony to take an oath making us feel that we are as Fredrick Engels put it "organs of society standing above socictygiven prestige by means of special decrees which invest them with a particular sanctity and inviobility” Besides in order to keep our positions we have to follow the guidelines outlined by the constitution or we lose are positions ASCEU members are students We try to make decisions which would be beneficial to us as students We are not some administrative authority which make decisions about the best interests of the people ASCEU is part of the people at CEU Losing office brings me to my next point Maxfield complains of the lack of impeachment policy My advice fcould be to look at article 9 section 4 That would give you and impeachment policy It would seem that Maxfield's article is also contradictory in the sense that it seems that he is advocating the "minimal State" but at the same time more than willing to invest the authority to someone higher up in the bureaucracy to conjure up some legal binding document which would be only slightly more authoritarian Not (hat I am disagreeing with him the constitution does need reworking but I do believe he goes off the deep end The US Constitution is extremely vague For example The US Constitution never delineates who is supposed to give the oath of office to the In theory anyone could be president if given the president-eleoath Does this ambiguity negate the acceptance of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land? Does that make the Constitution a "straw dog?" I low does one interpret something like that? The truth is ASCEU are just a bunch of puppets If it is true power you are looking for with ASCEU Maxfield you are barking up the wrong tree My advice would be to go visit the people in the administration g and let them give us more power Then you would find the change you are looking for Barry Maxfield's attack on the ASCEU Constitution in last issue's newspaper was intriguing albeit misdirected Maxfield seems to think that the ASCEU Constitution is a “straw dog" but whose fault is that? Why is ambiguity such a bad thing anyway? The vagueness of the US Constitution is its strength Besides the ASCEU Constitution is not a legal binding agreement anyway Why the fuss? My question is what constitution isn't a straw dog? Perhaps not the ones with authoritarian regimes but that would require absolutely no say in the decision making processes of regulatory authority which given no opportunity for we would be quietly submissive in the realm of totalitarianism It would seem that you are critiquing a system without providing any alternatives The only alternative you provide is one with writing a new constitution But the truth is that by not questioning the underlying assumptions of which these documents are made how can any real change actually occur? That itself is an error of analysis Loopholes are a way of life No matter what legal document exists a static ideology cannot possibly foresee the future which would mean that anything so structured would fall victim to being obsolete Initially what is so ethically wrong about a high school senior campaigning for office? He never gives any reason why it is unethical If one believes that hcshe can do the job then let him her do it Danielle Jensen proves my point So far this year she has performed her duties to near perfection Activities this year have been a step or two above the activities last year Success of the activities is measured by the student body turnout not by a sheet of paper called a constitution The only specifics about the activities vice president is that she keeps the activities organized She has done just that What else do you want her to do? The next point Maxfield brings up is can an ASCEU officer endorse a candidate? Why not? What makes a student body officer above the rest of the student body so they cannot have their interests represented in a cabinet which their position may not cover? The argument that this would only strengthen ASCEU members power is fallacious in nature since members vote is only one it has little impact on the election The rest of the student body can choose someone else if they so desire What is the difference between a student body officer and a student endorsing a candidate? Next he indicates that the legality of the document is of horrible quality I think that Maxfield believes that the constitution is more legally binding than it really is The ASCEU Constitution is merely a reflection of what is done in the US government ASCEU is overseen by administrative bodies in CEU Its only real purpose is to give the students a sense of belonging in the CEU decisionmaking process as well as providing activities for the students What is so wrong with that? ASCEU's constitution is not meant for direct control over the student body If it were wc would have no need for the administration As for the constitution creating potential legal problems the vagueness of the constitution would not be the catalyst for legal action What student government activity in the past 20 years have f I 1 v i ' - v 1 ' ' V i t r by Sundi Decker editor "It has been said If they would see the star which should at once (direct their feet and influence their destiny they must look for it - not in the changing skin of outward circumstance but each in the depth of his own heart and after the pattern provided by the staff writer Run hide and lock your doors! That’s rights folks it’s finals week! AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHIIHHHHIIH! No seriously it is finals week but it’s nothing we can't handle I mean come on we're college students We’re so busy this week and next week that I feel like I'm going in a million directions a million miles per hour But I mean our experience in freshman seminar should have prepared us well for (his task right? For myself (his situation is ’ compounded by the fact that I m going to a debate tournament from Thursday to Monday At the moment that I’m writing this article I'm burning the midnight oil to get this finished hut hey it's no sweat One of the most important things for everyone to remember is the biggest problem with finals week is that everyone is stressing out so bad that they just don't know where to start The best thing that you can do is sit back relax and start small This helps you gain momentum and once that happens look out! You get on a roll and before you know it finals are over and you made it out just fine Another thing that you can do is get started right now on all the things that you have to get done The absolute worst thing that you can do is procrastinate until the last second believe me I know I'm a debater! But for all of you out there that are procrastinators or are just plain stressing out just say "damn the man! Pass your tests!" Don't let the man get you down and just think of Christmas break and all the free time that you will have to do absolutely nothing life-sty- le -- Callforlovcandgiveitbeawareofthepainqthcrsfeclanddouse your own make small blessings the light of your compassion and ' love’Vv' by Zach Westerfield ’ knowledge of an unseen divine power thru graces the world with struggles that make us individual 1 write these words with the miracles The very fact that learning to serve othera in the spirit of hope that they at least make someone read and then expand on ‘ ’ giving sets off a chain reaction that can continue throughout the what I have humbly tried to put into words £ wish you a Merry year proves bow much one person can do 1 believe that an essence Christinas and I askthiat you make Christmas a forever place in of childlike innocence an element needed to make a person open 'your life May peace be yours this holiday season remember and giving runs free at Christmas time I believe that whatever our peace of the world starts with you we have chances to religious background or choice of "1411 serve others we Just have to leam how to find them I Thomas S Monson If 1 could give the wish of my heart for Christmas this year I would call for peace 1 am aware that 1 overrate my value with the assumption that I one little person could influence the world and yet I treasure that with such a high ideal inmiud I can begin with improving myself Here is my effort this season and let me make known the gratitude 1 have for freedom of speech By exercising that freedomlhave the chance to tell si least a few people who read this bow Christmas can be viewed uniquely Regardless of race 'religion and attitudes I speak in behalf of all who Joy in the chance to dedicate a season to 1 know from simple experiences in my life that Christinas feelings have the power to mend broken relations and secure The key to surviving finals policy-makin- ChrCitmas' Master? y" this is direy relatnl tothdrabi notes anduse theiibraryoTbli' makes’ freshmen seminar? s and ct ' 1 ' "super-attorne- f of schools Everyone that is required toF take the class lias: tivat to'gd bn‘ J f gone to blgh sciiool 'graduated and h excelled in high school (to college These arethepebplewho share them Periiapssuch words have been written spoken arid tliought too many times Perhaps not For with the reiteration of them maybe one day the Christmas spirit will have universal uptake U could happen In the balance of life great misery teaches one to And wisdom and pure realization of joy This year build yourself up Find something only you 'can do however small it is and make it happen whether it bis talking to an anonymous gift for a troubled friend Such tokens are u timeless UllnQS tOGO While ' Wrlitinfl ifl llVlP i ' ' - for V rGQIStrStlOn Take a nap: this is a highly effective way to get the classes 1' you need especially for freshman Yell "All 101 classes have bceri'closed" The reaction t - phenomenal QUnt how 'many times certain faculty members go - v asQristmasltseIfTheyarc'asancientasthestarsorone4tar'that:nty?y(W!fctostnJe' desk are : guided men to an infant bom ofold Stars shine still and old things likeseekingapiectexamplrenew themselves when wercmem- ber the peace we feel in Service-- V V:' YV ' I wUh for pcacc-t- hc illumination of human life and 1 rejoice in the V - when registration they you fail to get into a class you need V 6 Finally: Try and guesswbat the next meal will be by the smell coming from the cafeteria — !'' |