With the close of the senate impeachment committee this week, it’s no secret that things are tense in student government.
Since the impeachment proceedings bubbled over, sides have been taken within SG. As the proceedings progress, the division seems to be getting worse.
It seems eerily close to politics in our nation.
When George Washington, first president of the U.S., was re-elected in 1793, political parties were forming. During Washington’s farewell address in 1796, Washington warned the nation to steer clear of political parties. He warned of the consequences of political parties with these words:
“It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection.”
Unfortunately, we know the end of the story. America didn’t listen. Today, the U.S. couldn’t be more polarized. We even will withhold our love and friendship to those who sit on the opposite side of the spectrum from us.
How did we get here? Our politicians sit in meetings, often spending more time trying to one-up the other side. We focus our energy on supporting our party, and it’s like Washington said: we’re distracted.
We’ll never go back to being a nation without parties. It’s safe to say most of the American people wish we could, but now, it’s nearly impossible.
Perhaps SG has not formed political parties, but the lines being drawn are alarming to us. Other student governments in the public university system have political parties. University of Florida’s student government has four, according to ufl.edu. Editorials written by various college newspapers around the country are celebrating the partisanship.
This baffles us. How can we celebrate division, angry words and distractions? While our SG argues, we still don’t have a vice president or a full cabinet. Can we be investing our energies elsewhere?
We are not taking a side on the impeachment. Maybe SG would be better if the impeachment ran its course. Maybe not. We’re not sure. And we realize that while these tense proceedings happen, there will be division, sides and controversy.
But we implore our SG members to guard themselves. Many of you have reasons for taking your stance, and you honestly want to make a difference at your university. We appreciate you. But don’t allow the divisions to follow you through your time in SG, even after we’ve all forgotten about the impeachment.
We charge you as Washington charged America: Don’t form political parties.
Don’t get distracted by in-fighting. Rise above it and serve your student body as they deserve.
We know you can.
