President Hopoi should resign, ASOSU needs improvement

Honestly, what was President M. Tonga Hopoi thinking?

Did she think that no one would notice? That she could get away with it? That it wasn't that big of a deal? That she didn't need to seek permission from the proper channels?

What we do know is that when she took office, she ordered a pay increase for most of the paid officials in the Associated Students of Oregon State University without having the authority to do so and against ASOSU statutes. And giving yourself money just because you think you can and without authority, is about the worst thing a government official can do.

It is time for Hopoi to resign from being president of ASOSU. One can't feign innocence or ignorance or acting in the student body's best interest with this one. Taking money that you're not supposed to is exactly what it sounds like; corruption in its most rudimentary form.  

Hopoi did not have the authority to give those raises and her decision to do so ran roughshod over the statutes and the two bodies who are responsible for setting the executive's budget, that of the House of Representatives Ways and Means committee and the Student Incidental Fee Committee. We need leaders who respect the rules of law and not one who decides to ignore them.

But what is also lacking here, and perhaps how it went unnoticed for so long, is the complete failure of advising from the advocates who should be on the lookout to make sure the president is making wise and legal decisions. It's inexcusable that ASOSU's advocates weren't there telling Hopoi she couldn't authorize raises. What are we paying ASOSU advocates and advisors for if not to be the institutional knowledge that helps young leaders make wise decisions? There is blame to be put on their shoulders as well, and not just Hopoi's.

Hopoi has claimed, "We weren't aware we needed legislative approval." But as the lead executive official, it is her responsibility to know what to do. Hopoi should know the laws and statutes that limit her power and authority. And the fact that she once again decided to act outside of those bounds is a sign that she needs to go.

Even if she actually was ignorant of the rules and had no malicious intent, it's still inexcusable that her level of knowledge of statutes is so little. She should have received better training and better advice from those around her.

We do not wish to see a repeat of this fall's farce of an impeachment trial — where Hopoi was censured for failing to attend the Oregon Students Association meetings — but this is actually an impeachable offense, and  one that should move against the president.

This talk of reaching an equitable solution is ridiculous. How can we continue to be led by a president who has obviously betrayed the trust given to her by the student body? What sort of solution can be found with a president we can't trust?

Hopoi should step down, but if she doesn't, it is the legislature's responsibility to hold her accountable. She needs to be impeached and removed from office, a transgression as large as this cannot be glossed over. Our school shouldn't be tarnished with a reputation for leaders who cannot follow the rules they are tasked to uphold.

In a democracy, it is vital that we hold our elected officials accountable and we must hold Hopoi accountable for this egregious display of misappropriation of power and money. While it is questionable whether she should have been impeached this fall — she should have just been censured by the House, if anything at all — she needs to be removed from office as swiftly as possible now.

We also need better training for our student leaders. There is obviously something wrong going on there, and while ASOSU is a learning environment for the leaders of tomorrow, it shouldn't be unqualified and untrained. The ASOSU advocates need to conduct better training for all levels of government, because the level of current aptitude is completely inexcusable.

Besides stepping down, better oversight of ASOSU executives is needed too. We need legislators who are going to do a better job of overseeing the executive and being the check and balance to its power that it needs to be. ASOSU expenditures should be looked at by the House Ways and Means Committee regularly. The faculty advisors who oversee ASOSU need to do a better job of advising and making sure that illegal things don't happen.

But most importantly, we need a student body that is more engaged in their student government — one that participates in elections and holds their elected officials accountable. There should be outrage over this behavior, but instead, the apathetic student body is getting the government they deserve.

We do not expect such behavior from democratically elected leaders. ASOSU needs new leadership and better-trained leadership, and it needs it now.

Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.