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Show www.dailyutahchronicle.cor ► 5 OPINION Tuesday, April 19, 2011 THE CHRONICLE'S VIEW 1 seat, 1 vote ASUU election changes to be more proportional C hange is coming to the way your vote is counted in ASUU. Attorney General Oakley Gordon has rewritten the constitution that will be before the Assembly for a vote prior to a potential referendum for final approval. The Associated Students of the University of Utah's executive branch is none too happy about the potential weakening of its majorityholding parties in favor of student-empowered voting. The new 20-page document will update the previous constitution, including key points such as making the senior class president constitutional. Another key adjustment is proposed to reduce what Gordon calls "redundant representation." As it stands, each student votes for all of the seats in the college for the Assembly. This perpetuates the slight majority that a party will typically have and propel that through all the seats in a college, leaving the minorities high and dry and their voters leaderless. For this reason, The Daily Utah Chronicle endorses the amended constitution, which will rectify the misrepresentation and dodge an executive veto. In congressional districts, representation is based on geographical boundaries in a single-member system. In ASUU, it is determined based on voters' colleges. In comparison to Utah, that would be similar to voting for all of the representatives for the state, as opposed to just District 3. To put it in perspective on campus, in the most recent ASUU election, the Represent Party had the statistical majority for 20 of the 36 seats. When the final votes were tallied, because that same majority got to vote on every seat in its college as opposed to just one, 32 of the 36 seats were given to Represent Party members—an errant inflation of its majority stake. Gordon's plan will clear up the persistent anomaly, combining a runoff system and the caucus while adding room for write-in candidates in a proportional party-list voting system. Despite the title, voters— not party members—choose the party's hierarchy. If implemented, a voter will pick one party as his or her favorite and then list the priority of the members of that party as well as any opposing parties. This ensures that the will of the general public is enacted—even if your party isn't chosen, your rankings are aggregated to position the leaders. Besides being more democratic, counting one vote for one seat, the plan will also allow voters to have a say in the hierarchy of whichever party is elected. It is critical that the Assembly does not crumble to the clout of the sitting executive administration and instead votes for the students. Like all hegemonic groups, the executive branch fears losing the control it currently has. The new system will empower student votes by removing double counting that has given disproportionate power to the slightly majoritarian group. Cited by Gordon as the largest change since the creation of the Senate, this year has the chance to pass power to the students—the group ASUU claims to represent. WI L LUS BRANHAM/The Daily Utah Chronicle Less meat, less carbon Vegan diets prove healthier for environment piegel Online, the online version of the German newspaper, estimated that an individual's meat consumption in one year linked with the production of greenhouse gases is equal to driving 2,956 miles in a mid-sized car. A vegetarian's diet is equal to driving 1,508 miles. A vegan's diet is equal to driving 391 miles. A simple diet change can drastically reduce personal CO2 responsibility. In a 2008 U.N. climate-change conference, Rajendra Pachauri, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, discussed "something that the IPCC was afraid to say earlier." "Please eat less meat—meat is a very carbon-intensive commodity," he said. In 2006, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. said the ecological shadow of the livestock industry "needs to be addressed with urgency." The FAO's 390-page report, "Livestock's Long Shadow," determined that the livestock sector—including fishing—seriously contributed to six environmental problems: land degradation, climate change, air pollution, water shortage, water pollution and loss of biodiversity. For example, 70 percent of land formerly forested in the Amazon was converted into pastures and crops for livestock. Consequently, the IPCC's plea for less meat is asking for a thimbleful of water when you need a bucketful. In 2010, the U.N. Environment S letters@chronicle.utah.edu Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily Utah Chronicle Editorial Board. Signed editorials, editorial columns and letters to the editor are strictly the opinions of the author. The forum created on the Opinion Page is one based on vigorous debate, while at the same time demanding tolerance and respect. Material defamatory to an individual or group because of race, ethnic background, religion, creed, gender, appearance or sexual orientation will be edited or will not be published. All letters to the editor will now be published online at www.dailyutahchronicle.com . Letters that the editor deems best represent those received will be printed in the newspaper. STEWART THORPE Opinion Writer Programme asked for a bucketful. On World Environment Day, UNEP released a report stating that diets rich in meat and dairy were unsustainable in freshwater use and land use, and their industries are responsible for 19 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. UNEP urged that a global shift away from meat and dairy was necessary to reduce hunger, poverty and the worst impacts of climate change. Additionally, "a substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products." "Many assumptions don't fit the ecological context anymore," said Fred Montague, professor of biology at the U. This certainly is applicable to our standing assumptions about our choices and food. They no longer fit the ecological context. You can use a Toyota Prius or bicycle, turn off lights, not let the faucet run, recycle, use your own mug at coffee shops and use cloth bags when shopping. However, your food choices still have an enormous ecological weight. A Although eating less meat is good, it is miles behind eating no animal products. Beyond the stated benefits, people will get curious. They'll almost always ask why. Veganism raises ecological awareness through normal, day-to-day life. Eating less meat doesn't do this. As for health, well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are "healthful, nutritionally adequate (and) appropriate for individuals during all stages of the lifecycle," including athletes, said the American Dietetic Association. Vegan alternatives and recipes are abundant, increasingly accessible and can even be delicious. There is a local vegan bakery with pastry sweets and desserts, Cakewalk Baking Company, just down the hill from the U at 434 S. 900 East. Although it's easy to lose track of whether you are actually eating fewer animal products, veganism keeps you grounded by perpetuating a daily ecological mindset. Veganism is a crucial decision favoring the Earth's and our own wellbeing. You can choose a transition in steps: eliminate beef, then pork, then dairy—or start vegetarian then work toward veganism. However, any approach that is irregular runs a risk of being forgotten altogether. Reduction is superior to no reduction. Elimination is still much better. Take it at a pace if you must, but, for the Earth's sake and for our ecological future, please take it forward. letters@chronicle.utah.edu Sign up now www.dailyutahchronicle.com On "Student visions take off with ASUU aid" (Jon Bullen, April 14, 2011) Opinion Anonymous On "ASUU awards teachers, students present customized thank-yous" (Laura Schmitz, April 14, 2011) News Cl \ Anonymous posted 4.14.11 @ 12:46 p.m. How does someone tap into these funds? Who controls it - senate or assembly? It would be nice if this article had an example of how someone could utilize these funds, and how new students at the U from undergrads, graduates, or not as informed students now could be educated on how to use these funds - would it be discussed during school orientations? Etc. posted 4.14.11 @ 12:42 p.m. Who are all of the teachers who were recognized? On "Spiral Jetty influences prof's novel" (Katie Steiner, April 7, 2011) News als for food, entertainment and rything else for students, faculty d staff at the University of Utah. U-idiot I posted 4.7.11 @ 11 :33 a.m. Anonymous "Art is a pleasant sight to the ordinary eye" k.... stop there lol... what does this mean? is art not pleasant to the unordinary eye? this is the dumbest statement i've ever read.... "but for Lance Olsen, art has driven his passion and inspired an unprecedented novel"... so does this guy have ordinary eyes? what would that have to do with anything posted 4.15.11 @ 7:56 p.m. Has the Represent party even taken control of ASUU legislation yet? I don't think they have. Get paid for voicing your opinion, Go to www.UtahCampusDeals.com and sign up today to get Opinion Columnist today. b.beifuss@chronicle.utah.edu |