I was dismayed that ISU student government established a secretive and technocratic rules committee to investigate other officers and committee actions. Included in its investigation was an allegation that Lisa Dlouhy, GSB Vice President, had “expressed her opinion” on a legislative process.

I also noticed Dlouhy allowed the buck to stop in front of her. Harry Truman would have been proud.

But since GSB started conducting secret investigations, closing meetings to the public and applying “gag orders,” Joe McCarthy would have been even more proud.

It’s no small surprise that a largely male student government is trying to keep Dlouhy’s mouth shut.

I defend your First Amendment right to speak your mind on that basis. Robert’s Rules of Order do not require vice-presidents to check their opinions at inauguration.

Notwithstanding a chair’s responsibility to govern proceedings fairly, the GSB vice president is not a Stepford politician without conviction.

Your constituency elected two executives. Do not short-change them.

You are the second-most influential student leader on campus. I encourage you to do big things for yourself and the students this year.

You’ve only got a short time to do so. Your successors are already licking their chops.

Only one will replace you, and most will never realize what hard work it is to fill your shoes.

Don’t let the majority of wannabes and on-lookers determine the tone of your tenure as vice president. You’ll be glad you didn’t.

David A. Cmelik

Alumnus

Cedar Rapids