2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: Senate given rare opportunity to prove itself
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
02/28/08 - The University of Rhode Island Student Senate rarely makes a move that impacts a wide-range of students. But the American Civil Liberties Union's recent announcement that Narragansett's "Unruly Gatherings" ordinance raises "potentially significant civil liberties issues" certainly proves senate can - if it puts its mind to it - make waves.
From all signs, the man pulling the strings from the start was External Affairs Committee Chairman Thomas Ahrens. He followed the issue with passion rarely displayed by the average senator.
Ahrens calls the policy, which fines occupants of so-called "party houses" and puts orange stickers on their front doors, an unjust ordinance that targets students and ignores fundamental civil liberties.
While that may or may not be true, Ahrens deserves credit for taking charge of a senate otherwise content with discussing its next social gathering or arguing a mundane point of parliamentary procedure.
The ACLU letter reinvigorated the body, but now comes the hard part. If the ACLU's involvement leads to a court case the issue will take years to resolve. That means other senators must be willing to carry the torch and follow in Ahrens' footsteps. And that's no easy task.
A Narragansett town councilman displayed his cavalier attitude toward the issue yesterday when he said the town must have been doing something right if the ACLU is complaining. It will take a strong-willed and confident senator to stand up to such officials.
The senate must also be confident in its position. There may be legitimate civil rights issues at stake, but if not handled carefully the public will see a senate essentially defending the right of students to party.
Indeed, the senate needs to be abundantly cautious that it doesn't turn into a single-issue body. It's easy to rally around a case that students see as unfair and that is relatively simple to explain. It's a lot harder to understand the state budget cuts to URI and take on the state General Assembly.
Senate should use this "victory" and newfound confidence to tackle other concerns affecting the student body. Besides fighting for increased state funding, we would hope the senate would demand more rights for on-campus student residents, follow-up on safety concerns and pressure RIPTA to address student complaints.
Senate may have won one battle yesterday but it's still fighting the war.
From all signs, the man pulling the strings from the start was External Affairs Committee Chairman Thomas Ahrens. He followed the issue with passion rarely displayed by the average senator.
Ahrens calls the policy, which fines occupants of so-called "party houses" and puts orange stickers on their front doors, an unjust ordinance that targets students and ignores fundamental civil liberties.
While that may or may not be true, Ahrens deserves credit for taking charge of a senate otherwise content with discussing its next social gathering or arguing a mundane point of parliamentary procedure.
The ACLU letter reinvigorated the body, but now comes the hard part. If the ACLU's involvement leads to a court case the issue will take years to resolve. That means other senators must be willing to carry the torch and follow in Ahrens' footsteps. And that's no easy task.
A Narragansett town councilman displayed his cavalier attitude toward the issue yesterday when he said the town must have been doing something right if the ACLU is complaining. It will take a strong-willed and confident senator to stand up to such officials.
The senate must also be confident in its position. There may be legitimate civil rights issues at stake, but if not handled carefully the public will see a senate essentially defending the right of students to party.
Indeed, the senate needs to be abundantly cautious that it doesn't turn into a single-issue body. It's easy to rally around a case that students see as unfair and that is relatively simple to explain. It's a lot harder to understand the state budget cuts to URI and take on the state General Assembly.
Senate should use this "victory" and newfound confidence to tackle other concerns affecting the student body. Besides fighting for increased state funding, we would hope the senate would demand more rights for on-campus student residents, follow-up on safety concerns and pressure RIPTA to address student complaints.
Senate may have won one battle yesterday but it's still fighting the war.