The Wheel firmly endorses College freshman Reuben Lack for College Council (CC) vice president. Lack is a freshman CC legislator and an active participant in Emory’s Barkley Forum. Although his time on CC has been short, Lack spent his first term revising College Council’s monetary policy to reign in excess spending from the Executive Fund. This new policy frees a substantial amount of money to be given to clubs in need. Lack has also been heavily involved on a task force to address issues regarding free speech on campus. He will present a policy proposal, inspired by the University of Pennsylvania’s free speech policy, to the Emory University senate at the end of this summer.
Although Lack, like most other candidates, has emphasized the apparent need for transparency in Emory’s student government system, he has also presented feasible and unique solutions to combat this issue. Lack has suggested the posting of video minutes of CC meetings and the publication of internally-circulated documents regarding monetary allocations on the council’s website. He has also recommended that the CC website include added functionality such as professors’ syllabi and a well-moderated forum for class comments.
Lack suggested that CC establish a permanent forum, working in tandem with the Barkley Forum, for the discussion of prescient issues such as race, sexual harassment, free speech and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights. His platform also proposes an educational campaign on tolerance and meaningful inclusion that would engage the support of the many clubs on campus.
Furthermore, Lack has emphasized the need for CC to become an organization that advocates for students on matters of significant campus interest, such as the recent department changes. He recommends that CC adopt a stance on pressing campus issues and use its power to support movements that benefit students. His platform also suggests the organization of an action committee within the council to organize student activists in the event that the University administration has not taken sufficient action.
We believe that Lack’s approach to CC’s role on campus is unique and has the potential to do much good on campus. However, we caution moderation in using CC as a means of facilitating student activism. Many campus issues can be divisive, and we are concerned that the council might take action in situations where the student body’s opinion is too varied to unify behind a single organization. CC should not be the vehicle for one person’s political beliefs. Instead, it should speak for the student body, and we advise the concerted use of consensus in decisions of a more volatile political nature.
Lack has impressed us with his ability to take action and achieve tangible change in such a short period of time. He has demonstrated a knack for getting things done, which we feel is crucial to the success of student government organizations like CC. He and his platform are well-organized and present viable means to enact change both within CC and on campus. We wish Lack the best of luck in the upcoming election.
The Emory Wheel was founded in 1919 and is currently the only independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University. The Wheel publishes weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions.
The Wheel is financially and editorially independent from the University. All of its content is generated by the Wheel’s more than 100 student staff members and contributing writers, and its printing costs are covered by profits from self-generated advertising sales.
“Lack suggested that CC establish a permanent forum, working in tandem with the Barkley Forum, for the discussion of prescient issues such as race (…)”
My God! Either “prescient” does not mean what you think it means or you are just as ignorant about race as President Wagner is. Does anybody at Emory edit?
President Wagner, you need to redouble your institution’s efforts to teach students the ingles. Speaking and writing the ingles is important. Making this effort would be prescient.
Actually, that was a word the Wheel used. My platform actually reads:
“Establish a permanent forum for discussion and debate on issues of race, sexual harassment, free speech, class and labor, and gay right[s]. This forum should work in tandem with the Barkley Forum’s efforts to increase informed debate on campus.”
Bro, I wasn’t addressing you and I’m willing to bet that you are a bright, capable candidate. Argue your case on the merits and best of luck. I was addressing the stunning usage of the word “prescient,” not by you – but by the Wheel. Wheel, edit your crap and make it worthy of Emory and the candidate you have endorsed. Jesus!
yeah that is a pretty hilarious error
I feel like the author meant to say “pressing”, mis-typed, and got auto-corrected?
But yeah. Sadly, this sort of thing has never been The Wheel’s strong suit. It’s especially obvious when they publish student editorials. I remember a particularly horrible one that considered the consolidative merits of going to war with Iran.