The De Anza Student Body Senate has managed to come up with the most sexist, uninspiring and time-wasting event of the year … a beauty contest titled Mr. & Ms. De Anza.

Although they make an attempt to cover up the fact that this is a beauty contest, it clearly is.

The application consists of a request for a mug shot and full body photo (required) and a section to list sports, hobbies and extracurriculars (optional). It seems that when representing De Anza College, looks are more important than your activities on campus.

The Senate claims that the winners of this event will be representative of De Anza students, but how can two students represent the diversity of De Anza? Especially since the contestants aren’t competing to win the votes of the student body, but instead competing to win the votes of the few judges at the event.

Senate member Yujin Yoshimura, one of the organizers of the event, said, “We had no huge event planned for winter quarter; we had to come up with something to entertain the students.”

The Senate is so busy with the burning issues on their agenda – such as counting how many members failed to wear their maroon Senate shirts – that they haven’t noticed the buzz on campus surrounding the issue of gender stereotypes that Mr. & Ms. De Anza has created.

The Senate somewhat deserves a pat on the back for saying a person’s sexual orientation is not an issue. But what they failed to consider is that sexual orientation is not the same thing as the gender with which someone identifies.

During the Feb. 18 Inter-Club Council meeting, an ICC representative from Asian Pacific American Students for Leadership asked, “Can a woman apply as a man? Or a man apply as a woman?” She was answered with ignorant laughs vibrating through the council chambers from those present.

Senate organizers also seem to be confused as to the actual purpose of the event. Since the person is supposed to represent De Anza, why not have them act as ambassadors, promoting De Anza at high schools and other colleges?

Right now the Senate only has plans for holding a Q&A session, a talent show and wasting approximately $400 dollars ($100 per winner, $25 for decorations and $175 for refreshments). Here’s an idea: instead of giving away money during these mass budget cuts, how about having applicants fundraise for a cause or program here at De Anza?

Senate members are supposed to uphold the mission of De Anza by challenging students to develop their intellect, character and abilities. So why is our Senate hosting a degrading, sexist display of an event that tells students to challenge their bodies instead of their minds?