Recently, there has been quite a stir on the topic of the Government of the Student Body specialty seats. However, behind the numbers and the controversy, the actual reason why these seats have been created is forgotten. We would all like to think that in the year 2001 the Government of the Student Body at Iowa State could represent everyone on this campus equally and to the fullest. The fact of the matter is this is beside the truth. Most of the senators in GSB are white, fully able-bodied, 18- to 22-year-old American males. Many of these senators do not seek the opinions of those who are students of color, international students, students with a disability or non-traditional students about issues in GSB. If you are a senator and you never contact these groups of under-represented students to become informed on their opinions, how can you represent them on senate? This is precisely the reason why the elimination of senate specialty seats will be significantly damaging to the voice of often-overlooked students on this campus. Even though the 9,722 students the specialty seats represent do not fall into the category of “majority,” they still should have the right to have these seats voice their often-silenced opinions in GSB. Jennifer L Ray

Sophomore

Apparel merchandising, design and production