DS View: Disrespect

Student Body Vice president, Matt Bakke, introduced this past week's senate meeting by warning all senators to control their attitudes. Recent meetings could have been considered a free-for-all of public threats and personal attacks. Bakke reminded each member of the senate that he possesses the authority to remove anyone from the meeting if their manners became hostile or insulting. This week, the hot topic discussed was UND's Cab Crawler program and Student Government's lack of funds to put toward it while maintaining affordability for the students. While some senators displayed a genuine interest in securing safe rides for students, others appeared to harbor a different agenda. What began as President Grandstrand and Treasurer Wiggins giving a presentation of the decisions of the past and options for the future of Cab Crawler turned into a trial by fire. Senators initiated a relentless barrage of questions regarding who's to blame as several past senators sat in the back and played the role of peanut gallery. The overall decorum of the senate meeting was extremely unprofessional and unproductive. Comments were made that, as the negotiator of contracts, Granstrand is soley responsible for the problem Student Government finds itself in, but as Wiggins tried to express in the presentation, the executive branch has a role of accountability to the senate and has a responsibility to uphold their wishes. Thus, the argument of the executives was that in the face of apathy in the senate, they did not act when the shortcomings of the budget were originally exposed. The ethics of the negotiations with Red, White, & Blue Cab were also called into question. Whether Grandstrand was trying to secure a good deal for the students and senate or to put one over on the management of Red, White, & Blue Cab is a matter of opinion, but the underhandedness of certain senators was obviously inappropriate and only added to the miscommunications that have complicated this issue. Mistakes were obviously made on many levels and the Dakota Student is not in a position to place blame on any party regarding the miscommunications and poor budgeting for Cab Crawler. We only wish to encourage a motive of progress and not blame in the senate. Who is to blame for present conflict is important, but not to an extent that discredits the student's representitive interest. The progression of senate depends on the ability to forget the past and any personal issues any senators and students may have against any member of senate. The time for personal attack and misplaced anger has expired. We can only hope that certain senators begin to consider the student's views and explain options in a mature and positive way.