Senate of College Councils Chairman Nick Staha is getting evicted.
Shortly before the winter break, a letter delivered to Staha asked him to vacate his fourth-floor office in the Student Services Building. The office belongs to Student Government, the letter continued, and is needed for SG purposes. The document was signed by SG President Brent Chaney.
"We mean no disrespect to Senate by this action. Student Government continues to respect and enjoy working with Senate for the betterment of students."
But that statement obscures the truth.
The last time the Senate and SG leaders appeared together on this page, one was at the other's throat over the student regent issue. Since Staha openly opposed an active push for a voting student regent last semester, his relationship with Chaney has been chilly at best. The bulk of the two bodies may "enjoy working" together, but the dialogue between Chaney and Staha falls somewhere between silent resentment and an open spittin' contest.
In fact, at the same time Staha's eviction notice showed up in his office, another document was circulating in SG mailboxes. Several members of the SG executive committee received a copy of Staha's statement on the student regent issue, with objectionable portions underlined or commented upon by Chaney.
No direct correlation between Staha's dissent regarding the student regent and the Dec. 3 eviction notice can be made. Chaney said SG needs the space for its committees and agencies, perhaps for legislative relations, but a specific use has not been decided.
Still, without a specific plan for the office, Chaney leaves himself open to the criticism that he's acting upon a personal grudge.
But the original move-out deadline (Jan. 10) has come and gone, and Staha is still there. He may be able to ride this one out; if Senate can stall until a new SG president is elected in March, perhaps the whole issue will be dropped.
Vice President of Student Affairs James Vick, who seemed less than thrilled to be dealing with this conflict, said a new deadline has not been set. Vick said the lack of a firm deadline "doesn't mean he never has to move out of his office." All parties agree that, historically, the space belongs to SG, and was given to Senate when the SSB opened.
But when asked whether the administration would force Staha and the Senate to comply with SG's wishes, Vick simply said, "We're trying to avoid the word 'enforcement.'"
Does that mean the administration wants the kids to sort this one out for themselves?
"That's the way it should work around here," Vick said.
Chaney said Sunday he was only looking out for the office he runs and added that he would be open to compromise. He suggested that the space revert to SG use after Staha's term is up, which might help dispel the notion that he is acting with a purely anti-Staha agenda. But such a deal would do little for future Senate leadership, who might want the office that has been theirs since 1997.
The two leaders should take care of this issue quickly. Facing an extremely important legislative session, rising tuition costs and decreased state appropriations to universities, SG and Senate have too much at stake to act like squabbling children.
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