It’s time for the pettiness to end

 

“Democracy only works with mutual respect and compromise.” 

 – CAB rep. Emma Stewart, Columbus

As young adults, we’ve been dodging the petty antics of grown-up politicians who have devolved civil debate into cat fights. When we came to college, we’d hoped that our student politicians would take the lead in creating positive change.  

But after witnessing the months long debate about the fire pit and last week’s impeachment trial of Senator Sullivan Jones, it’s clear that they’re mimicking the mistakes of the grownups.    

And maybe that is for the best. After all, there isn’t any better way to prepare us for the ‘real’ world then do what the grown-ups do rather than what they say. Why give us false hopes that political pettiness will stop once we leave school.  

We thought we were supposed to be learning from the generations that have come before us.  

But it’s clear we were wrong.   

In the impeachment trial of Senator Sullivan Jones, several senators complained he was making the Senate look bad in-person and in an opinion article in the Sept. 16 edition of The Eagle. They argued that was a sound reason to remove him but presented no evidence of wrongdoing.  

They didn’t like him, so they impeached him.  

Apparently, it has not occurred to the majority that by holding an impeachment trial with little preparation and no evidence, the senators are making themselves look bad. And if it did, why was the trial pushed through so quickly?  

In a trial, prosecutors who are the accusers prepare – thoroughly.  

It’s apparent that level of care was not taken in Jones’ case.  

As they clung to their reasons for Jones’ removal, in the end, the senators ran in circles. They committed the very sins they accused Jones of, and proved he wasn’t the only guilty party. 

Despite their continuous claims that they were not impeaching Jones because of his opinions, it failed to look that way. In the trial, they presented no firm evidence that would prove otherwise.  

The arguments thrown around the room that night – “he’s creating a toxic environment;” “creating mistrust;” – resembled those of high school cliques when they want to rid themselves of someone they don’t like.  

That makes us cringe.  

The Eagle has covered Student Senate for many years. We have watched senators come and go and documented countless debates.  

But nothing like this.  

That said, to their credit have never seen senators tas concerned with what the student body wants as those holding seats today. Most are willing to jump through hoops to benefit the student body. They don’t hold their seats for their own personal gain. That is something we are thankful for.  

So, what we’ve seen these past few weeks surprises us. It’s time for Senate to drop the pettiness, learn to tolerate differing opinions and get back to the bigger picture – serving their constituents.  

All students deserve that.