It seems the ASUO Constitution Court thinks it’s OK for Xavier Aranda, the National Student Exchange ethnic studies major, to fill Senate Seat 14.
“Students with multiple majors are not uncommon. The purpose which animates the division of Academic Senate seats among the University’s many disciplines is to ensure that all the diverse courses of study at the University are as adequately represented within the ASUO as possible,” the opinion reads. “There is nothing inherit in sharing identities among many possible disciplines which precludes a student from fulfilling that purpose.”
The confusing part is the court seems to think Aranda is an education major applying for seat 20, though it is not clear why. Still, it seems this should be enough to assuage concerns about Aranda’s eligibility. The court did note, however, this is only an advisory opinion that would hold no weight if a more formal challenge was filed.
The court also released two other opinions Tuesday night. One approved all Senate rules changes, and the other formally dismissed all charges in Michelle Haley’s grievance against President Emma Kallaway. Haley did not file any additional information within the time allotted by the court.
My reading of the opinion is that they misunderstood the question. Read the beginning of the opinion where they explain the question they were asked to answer.
In retrospect, the request for clarification would not have been very clear for someone who didn’t already know what was happening.