Essentially, OSPIRG’s last chance to continue next year was on Wednesday, when they brought a white-shirted posse before the ASUO Senate for a last standoff with the hombres on the ACFC. They were gunned down.
Rumor was, a ballot measure was coming down the pipe to bring the PIRG back next year. Whatever is brewing, the following message appeared on the ASUO programs mailing list, surely the next step:
Dear Programs,
Our voice as a student movement has been weakened. The ASUO Executive and other bodies of the ASUO have taken many actions that limit our ability to have voice on large issues that affect students and beyond. The Executive have said, “We think that the ASUO should be more concerned with getting football tickets to students than making the world a better place.” What a sad day that our student government values football tickets over making the world a better place beyond campus or that they have to be pitted against each other at all. Given the UO’s motto “Minds Move Mountains” we find this sediment of apathy as disrespectful to the mission of the UO and individual’s hard work in programs to make the UO and the world a better place.
The Coalition for Student Voice seeks to put together a steering committee of people from diverse backgrounds who believe students should have a voice beyond campus. Therefore, I ask YOU to please come to the LONGHOUSE (Behind the Law School) @ 6PM TUESDAY NIGHT to learn about this growing movement for more student voice and power. PLEASE BRING YOUR INPUT AND VOICE.
This meeting will serve as an opportunity for people to come together and talk about what our message should be and how to proceed into the spring.
There will be cookies too!
To make a stand against this disempowering message from the ASUO, we are working to put an initiative on the ballot that asks the students what they think about having student voice beyond our campus. In times with issues that are going to greatly affect our future like racial and sexual equality, foreign wars, global climate change and economic meltdown, student deserve a voice beyond campus borders.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, BUT WANT TO – Please still e-mail me and I will keep you updated on progress and how you can STILL help
Please e-mail/call me with any questions you have about this effort
Thank you and in Solidarity,
–
Jesse Hough