Another Student Senate meeting, another editorial. We're starting to establish a pattern.
In previous editorials, we have questioned, doubted and rejected Senate's actions for a number of reasons. We've called senators petty resume-padders and evil conspirators.
Because of this, the Editorial Board feels the need to remind our readers - and ourselves - that Senate is not the nucleus of the Axis of Evil; they just screw up sometimes.
In addition to occasionally putting the collective Senate foot in its mouth, Senate strives for efficiency and works diligently to make positive impacts on campus. As easy as it can be - and recently has been - to bash the Senate, we cannot ignore its good decisions. Obviously, though, we will not ignore the bad.
After meeting for five hours Tuesday night, Senate rejected two pieces of legislation: One piece proposed taking away the right for senators to call special meetings, and the other would have cut funding to any facility relying solely on hand scanners as the method of entry.
Staying true to its wishy-washy nature, Senate got it half-right by voting down both bills.
Taking away the power to call special meetings would have stripped senators of the basic ability to call for further discussion. In a democratic body, discussion and compromise are always necessary; any power allowing for more deliberation should be protected. Good job, guys.
On the other hand, we don't understand why Senate voted against a bill that would have required facilities to provide students with alternatives to using hand scanners to enter a building. There was more than enough student opposition in the fall Senate elections to let Senate know hand scanners aren't exactly students' cup o' tea. Boo on you guys.
The yin and the yang of Senate goes on. We don't expect anything less. Hopefully, this expected inconsistency will be traded for something students can rely on.
