A recall of current Thelomathesian Society [Thelmo] executives is a directive the student body should under- take, and now there is a petition to do so.
The recall is not concerning the individual, rather it is concerning the principle itself, which is the lack of representation in Thelmo.
I was in Thelmo for nearly two years, yet despite is- sues or lack of effort, it was always known that the student body elected their leader. The leader to take the work, the time, and the effort to represent the student body at St. Lawrence University. Currently, that principle is not being upheld, and it needs to be. A petition is beginning to circle campus, asking students to recall unelected executive board members. Specifically with the hope of forcing an election that will create a representative president.
The ideal is not lackluster, as simply asking for representative leadership is a principal necessity. One may ask, why care? A valid question, as many students here are simply involved for the social aspect of SLU, rather than the logistics of building a future. Although, many care because it is our student government, not anyone’s specifically. Our leadership should be voiced by us, selected by us, and focused on us.
Our leadership is not an appointee simply because one president has stepped away. Our own national system forces the same principle, as Truman was elected with FDR, which after the remainder of his term, he was forced to election. The same principal is applied if both the President and Vice President of the United States are killed, which then a member (elected) of Congress fills the shoes. It is not some appointee that fills the shoes of a leadership position, which is billed the responsibility of being the student body’s voice.
I urge all students to sign the petition, again, not to force a recall because of a person, but rather to force the leaders to truly be representative. An appointed personal of arguably the most important and representative of the student body is not how it should be done, rather it should be a true election where the student body chooses. Now more so than ever, as COVID-19 is finally behind us, it is time to get back to our typical procedures.
SLU for the first time in three years has an active first year class, an active student body, meetings that are in person, an increase in Thelmo budget, and an urge among our generation to be involved. So, let’s be involved in who represents us in leadership.
Some may argue the recall is built off of sexists reasons, hate reasons, or other absurd ideas. Although, that is truly not the case. The pure argument from the student body is that an executive board, which is not elected, is unfair, undemocratic, and not representative of the student body. Some may argue the recall is built off sexist’s reasons, hate reasons, or other absurd ideas. Although, that is truly not the case.
The pure argument from the student body is that an executive board, which is not elected, is unfair, undemocratic, and not representative of the student body.
To claim it is based off sexist’s reasons is an absurd claim, considering only two years prior, Thelmo had a president, which was a woman for nearly four years.
During that time, not once did one complain of the idea a woman in leadership was wrong. Rather, it was quite the opposite. Many were proud of the fact our student body elected a woman to the highest leadership position, considering SLU’s history regarding gender in leadership positions.
The paper has noted, and it is noted by others, that the true purpose behind this recall is the simple fact it was undemocratic. It is shameful in many ways, that the approach was simply to claim it was sexist, simply in an attempt to nullify any argument that may arise regarding executive leadership.
It may possibly be another reason why many students are turned away from Thelmo, considering their approach to solving issues, or as in this case, not solving the issue once more.