Every student is entitled their own political opinions, but it is the role of our elected officials to act on them and use their voices to represent their constituents. The key word in that statement is “act.”
During the student senate meeting this past Tuesday, 85 senators sat in the Senate Chamber for hours, listening to emotional testimonies from students, other senators and the authors of the resolution recognizing the installment of Juan Guaido as Interim President of Venezuela. Two Inspire Party senators stood up and shared their opinions on why they felt the student senate should not pass the resolution. As much as I disagree with their decision, these students stood up for what they believed in and used their role as a student senator to vote on behalf of their constituents.
There was one senator, however, out of the 85 present that evening who chose not to use his vote and not to serve as a voice for his constituents. What’s most concerning is that this same senator is now asking to serve as the voice of the entire student body and is asking for our vote for Student Body President. Zach Chou abstained on the resolution and sat out the vote when students on both sides of the issue relied on his voice.
Perhaps most alarming, students observed that in the livestream he shared, he can be seen laughing and mocking remarks made by those speaking during public debate. Students on both sides of the issue took this resolution very seriously. Opponents of the resolution stood up for what they believed in. The Venezuelan student population stood up for what they believed in. Eighty-four student senators stood for what their constituents believed in. Zach Chou sat out.
David Enriquez is the Student Body vice president.
