Editorial

Straight to Hell

The last couple of years have been awful quiet around these parts. Seems after years of loud vigilance on the part of students who hate to see their money spent, the local deputies of student government and student programs thought it might behoove them to watch their checkbooks, mellow and standardize their programming, and keep their mouths shut.

But the vigilantes graduated. The days of Fritz Von Carp's crusade against OSPIRG are over. KWVA remodeled their radio station, brought their programming to a level that made KNRQ drool and almost graduated their prize possession, J. Pierson. The Student Senate took advantage of the wealth of knowledge that was Martin Fisher and turned it into their governing documents, only to lose him to the "real world" last May. Jen Williamson and Zach Kelton left Suite Four and took with them their careful moderation when it came to most student groups. Susan Anderson graduated and left the PFC to function in its prior, haphazard way.

Some may have thought that moderation would reign. The litigation continues against OSPIRG. Frank Lindsay runs KWVA. James Boyd, who spent two years learning Martin Fisher's logic on the Student Senate, was elected Senate President last spring. Bill Washburn didn't get elected ASUO President. Bart Alexander was left to control the PFC's wayward checkwriting.

Even the best laid plans, however, can go awry. A summary judgment found that the Brennan Rounds camp failed to meet the critical details of the existing precedent in cases similar to the OSPIRG lawsuit. OSPIRG representatives spoke of it as the end of a nightmare. KWVA's programming director pulls all nighters on air to cover his delinquent DJs, and allows a freakish middle-aged community member to host a mostly music talk show about how all is the fault of multinational corporations. James Boyd resigned after OSPIRG State Chair Kalpana Krishnamurthy was elected Senate President in his place. Matt Scotten did get elected ASUO President. Bart Alexander abandoned his six PFC cronies in favor of twenty-nine three and four year olds at the preschool at which he teaches.

Let's face it. Student programming and student government is back to status quo circa 1994. Matt and Glen have pledged to posture and, well, posture some more. Every ASUO Executive before them has pledged to reduce tuition. Every year tuition goes up. OSPIRG has colonized the ASUO with Krishnamurthy not only serving as State Chair but President of the Student Senate, member of the KWVA Board of Directors and, of course, student. Watch for special interests and EMU insider trading of student incidental fees to be the name of the game. But really, for Christ's sake, Kalpana, this is student politics. It can't be that hardcore.

Sad to say it, but the self-appointed student activists are right about one thing: as much as we complain, the whole process by which these people monopolize our money and our time is democratic. Their mandate may be six percent of the student voting populace, but in the current student political climate, that's all it takes. Just remember: It's your $400 a year that pays for their excesses--whether or not you vote.