To the Editor, La Voz

For several weeks, I wanted to write in order to share my opinions regarding the DASB election. Because I am a candidate for DASB President and don’t want to create a conflict of interests, I held my peace. However, now that the polls are closing, I would like to share my experiences as an independent candidate in an increasingly unfair and partisan race.

The Senate never drew my attention before they voted to close the DASB Internet lab, which I used often. During the first Senate meeting I attended, the Senate voted to close the lab without adequate discussion, understanding or public input. The lab had cost practically nothing to run: it was fully staffed with volunteers, the equipment had been paid for and both the room and Internet connection were provided by the college. Now we have no lab, but the equipment – through depreciation – continues to cost us students a great deal. The logic behind closing the lab baffled me. It was then when I started to realize something was wrong with our Senate.

Through my candidacy, I had hoped to share my training and experience in business management in order to avoid this type of waste. I never aspired to become a politician. This quarter, I’m taking a lot of classes (26 units) and have hardly the time or patience for the political nonsense that has surfaced through the election.

During the Election Committee meeting on May 12, three of the four voting members – Grace Bello, Lydia Lescalleet and Sharla Stevens – admitted that they had compromised their impartiality by campaigning for other candidates. I soon realized that they would not allow anyone other than their candidates to win the election.

Now, I can see there is a cancer spreading through our Senate. A very small group of people has taken control of our Senate to promote its own agendas. These people align themselves with a club called, ironically enough, “Students for Justice.” So far, at least two Senate representatives associated with this organization – Lydia Lescalleet and Sharla Stevens – have violated their oaths of office by repeatedly ignoring the DASB Codes that make up its Bylaws, then citing that they need to change the rules to suit their whims.

Where’s the justice? The Senate has no formal judicial review system; its system of justice relies upon public observance and intervention. I feel this year’s Senate has made a remarkably poor effort to publicize its actions, as evidenced by the small public audiences during its meetings and few candidates in and poor expected voter turnout during its election. Consequently, I refer to our current governing body as the “Stealth Senate.”

With this silence, the Senate enjoys the freedom to repeatedly break the rules which have been set forth by previous Senates. It then has not only the arrogance (and disrespect towards predecessors) to claim that the rules need revision, but also the laziness to wait until after violations have occurred before discussing those revisions.

Throughout this election, I and many others have personally observed several violations of the DASB Election Code. (The sanctioning of “slates” is one, but I’ll save that discussion for another time.) Realizing I faced an unjust race, I studied the Codes that comprise the DASB Bylaws and submitted a grievance letter (one of several) to the Election Committee. During its meeting on May 17, the committee proved and admitted to its bias through allowing supporters of their candidates more opportunities to speak than it did others. Further, the committee ended the session by making unsubstantiated claims that the other candidates (including myself) had conspired against the committee’s candidates, without allowing us opportunities for rebuttal. This was clearly anarchy disguised as government.

I believe that one of the most important things our student representatives can do is to pass the torch on to their successors. By that rationale, allowing our Senate representatives to choose their replacements through an unfair election would be a tragedy for all students on this campus.

Certainly, once the ballots have been counted and the winner is announced, this year’s will be an inglorious victory for whoever is elected.

Sincerely yours,

John Carlsen

Candidate for DASB President