2008 Woodie Awards
Should Bagramian Stay or Should He Go?
Opponents want to see Levon on a jet plane.
Maggie Ownbey
Issue date: 3/16/05 Section: Opinion
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The emotionally charged accusations that flew across the table between Bagramian and the board brought shouts of, "You're out of order!" from both sides and the sudden resignation of the board's parliamentarian, Chase Knowles. Eight of nine people voted in favor of giving Bagramian the boot with a vote of "no confidence."
When it was all over but the shouting what side was right? When that many people are shouting for the same cause, one thing is clear: You'd better listen, Bagramian.
The ASU council members who voted against Bagramian feel that he is not performing his duties and that he needs to step down.
Bagramian's responded by stating that he cared more about the 350 votes he received in last year's election, but as one of his opponents said, he should represent the entire student body-that's more than 18,000 students.
The same student body he promised to work for in his campaign platform. A platform that was built on reforming Valley College's counseling department. A move that Dr. Bruce Thomas, chair of the counseling department calls, "risky business."
"[It's a] very bold statement to 'make it his mission' to improve our counseling system," said Thomas.
To be fair, Bagramian's opponents called the question before he had an opportunity to respond to the charges against him, using a parliamentary trick to silence his defense. And those "charges" lacked any kind of authority; there was no documentation proving any wrongdoing on his part and he is certainly not the first ASU president to fail to deliver on his campaign pledges.
But although the ugly meeting resembled a mob of crazed, torch-bearing villagers, even the mob's voice should be heard. Bagramian's main fault may be failing to listen to his detractors ... which may be enough to make him an ineffective leader.
"The success of the committee depends on the chair's ability to lead," Jessie Salas, ASU vice-president said.
The "no confidence" vote cannot force him from office - that's up to him - but if the student government is paralyzed, what's the point in maintaining the status quo?
Neither side seems to be listening to the other. But if there's going to be any solution to this impasse, short of a lynching by Robert's Rules of Order, Bagramian had better start the process by listening up.
