Democracy demands dissent. Government functions best when multiple voices are heard. Student government is no different.
It is troubling to hear that SFC member Hyung Cho may have been asked to skip a meeting by the committee’s chair, Amanda Newberg. It represents a fear of additional voices, voices that are necessary and positive for our democratic process.
If Newberg and committee vice-chair Karin Zimmer did tell Cho to miss the deliberation, it was a blatant abuse of power. As leaders in student government, it is their responsibility to encourage newer members to participate and add to the deliberations, whether or not they will vote. Suppressing the opinions and broader discussion of those they disagree with is wrong.
Even worse, it hurts our institution. The choices that student leaders make have a great impact on those around them. Fear and intimidation have no place in our student process.
Cho might not have made much of an impact if he had gone to the OSA hearing. But he could have sparked more discussion and prompted new ideas. He would have provided a different perspective–something our student government leaders desperately need.
It’s good that leaders such as Rudy Soto and Ryan Klute have strong opinions and ideas about how to improve Portland State. And their conviction for their causes is admirable. But that conviction should not come at the expense of other voices.
Instead of controlling information and using Machiavellian tactics to get their OSA proposal passed, there should have been an equitable exchange of ideas. And then the voting should have been conducted as normal.
That is called democracy.