It's a Tough Job But Someone Has To Do It... Speaking/Standing Up!
Dear Dr. Hernandez,
It was brought to my attention by our President Luis Nobriga that he will be the Party President for the Gator Party in the upcoming Fall Student Government elections in October.
I expressed to him that I do not agree with his decision to accept and embark in that capacity because he is the elected leader of the Hispanic Student Association. I feel that it is a conflict of interest for him to be the representative of the largest minority student group on campus while simultaneously serving as the head of a political organization vying for election.
If not for the mere implication that HSA could be perceived as a politically partisan organization, Luis should not undertake this role because HSA has maintained its “code of neutrality” in past elections.
The main role of the HSA president is to represent the needs and issues of the Hispanic-Latino population on campus and in the community. At the same time, he/she must lead an organization in service toward those constituents. Fall is the same period that includes the programming of Hispanic Heritage Month. From past experience, we can see that a president who is not fully engaged in oversight of HHM and HSA objectives can cause great injury to our purpose and operations.
HSA must also take into account the possible unintended consequences of such an action of having a seating president become an executive party member of a political party. HSA could be adversely affected by the results of the election if they are not the results that were expected, etc.
Simply put, HSA’s mission and purpose is too grand to be subjected to potential political consequence. I would like to know if Luis spoke with you prior to his decision and what your feelings were. If he didn’t come to you before he decided to step into this responsibility, will you be meeting with him and what will be your advice on this topic.
I disagree wholeheartedly with Luis’s acceptance of this position and hope that HSA will remain undeterred from its longstanding tradition of non-partisanship.
Sincerely,
David J. Ruiz
29 August 2008
2:36:08 AM
Dear Dr. Hernandez,
It was brought to my attention by our President Luis Nobriga that he will be the Party President for the Gator Party in the upcoming Fall Student Government elections in October.
I expressed to him that I do not agree with his decision to accept and embark in that capacity because he is the elected leader of the Hispanic Student Association. I feel that it is a conflict of interest for him to be the representative of the largest minority student group on campus while simultaneously serving as the head of a political organization vying for election.
If not for the mere implication that HSA could be perceived as a politically partisan organization, Luis should not undertake this role because HSA has maintained its “code of neutrality” in past elections.
The main role of the HSA president is to represent the needs and issues of the Hispanic-Latino population on campus and in the community. At the same time, he/she must lead an organization in service toward those constituents. Fall is the same period that includes the programming of Hispanic Heritage Month. From past experience, we can see that a president who is not fully engaged in oversight of HHM and HSA objectives can cause great injury to our purpose and operations.
HSA must also take into account the possible unintended consequences of such an action of having a seating president become an executive party member of a political party. HSA could be adversely affected by the results of the election if they are not the results that were expected, etc.
Simply put, HSA’s mission and purpose is too grand to be subjected to potential political consequence. I would like to know if Luis spoke with you prior to his decision and what your feelings were. If he didn’t come to you before he decided to step into this responsibility, will you be meeting with him and what will be your advice on this topic.
I disagree wholeheartedly with Luis’s acceptance of this position and hope that HSA will remain undeterred from its longstanding tradition of non-partisanship.
Sincerely,
David J. Ruiz
29 August 2008
2:36:08 AM
posted by David J. Ruiz | 11:37:00 PM
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