Executive sessions have been popping up all over the Government of the Student Body.

GSB has used executive sessions — meetings open only to those that GSB chooses — three times already this semester.

A hockey investigation, an appointments committee investigation and the decision over whether Paul Duncan should remain on the finance committee have been discussed during executive session.

GSB cited “personnel and internal issues” as its reason to close the latest meeting to the public and even to its own president, Ben Golding.

Unless GSB has something to hide, the executive sessions need to stop.

Even if these sessions aren’t trying to cover something up, they appear this way because the public isn’t allowed to attend.

Closed meetings fail to explain the motivations behind GSB votes.

No voting can take place in executive session, but discussion occurs.

When these committees have all their debate behind closed doors, the votes are meaningless to ISU students because they have no context.

This will only cause students, whom GSB serves, to distrust GSB’s motivations.

In some rare circumstances, a closed meeting may be necessary.

Yet if meetings routinely go into executive session, it takes away the power and reasoning for them.

Also, reasons for closed meetings need to be valid and compelling.

Maybe GSB just doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but being in the spotlight is something that occasionally goes hand-in-hand with holding government positions.

If GSB senators can’t stand up to public scrutiny, maybe they shouldn’t run for public office.

Editorial Board: Carrie Tett, Greg Jerrett, Katie Goldsmith, Amie Van Overmeer, Andrea Hauser and Jocelyn Marcus