2008 Woodie Awards
Bagramian: Much Ado About the ASU
Susan Maltby
Issue date: 4/6/05 Section: Opinion
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There are two sides to every story. Sometimes, there are even three or four.
Students at Valley College should have been informed about communication problems and bureaucratic difficulties within their student government before the situation became as volatile as it has.
For our main players in this semester's ongoing saga of Valley's Associated Student Union, there are as many sides as on the take-out menu at El Pollo Loco. The problem for the student population is that it's hard to know whose side to believe.
With the April 17 ASU election fast approaching, President Levon Bagramian may still have enough time to pack it up, pack it in and let the healing begin; and with all of his latest headaches, no one would blame him for it.
But then, if he actually is a dedicated leader, Bagramian, shouldn't let someone else pull the plug just because things get tough.
Students don't have enough information to predict what road Bagramian will take or to even know which player to root for.
One side of the story is that the board has been uncooperative with Bagramian; not wanting to let an outsider into their circle. Like a bunch of schoolyard bullies ganging up on the new kid, the board has been accused of pow-wowing to get Bagramian out of office right after he was elected.
The other side of the story is that the executive council is completely accurate and Bagramian is the one who is uncooperative and unwilling to listen to his executive council members' opinions. In other words, he doesn't play well with others.
Regardless of who started what, or who said what to whom, Bagramian has obviously failed to endear himself to his fellows. Perhaps that's his biggest mistake. But is it his only mistake?
With just two months remaining in Bagramian's one-year term, the board wants him out of office, claiming that he's failed to fulfill campaign promises.
Oh, please. Name one ASU president, or any politician for that matter, who has fulfilled all of their campaign promises. Even last year's ever-popular, excruciatingly handsome and charismatic ASU President James Brevard couldn't do that, despite his chiseled muscles, magnificent wit and perfect smile. Sigh.
Students at Valley College should have been informed about communication problems and bureaucratic difficulties within their student government before the situation became as volatile as it has.
For our main players in this semester's ongoing saga of Valley's Associated Student Union, there are as many sides as on the take-out menu at El Pollo Loco. The problem for the student population is that it's hard to know whose side to believe.
With the April 17 ASU election fast approaching, President Levon Bagramian may still have enough time to pack it up, pack it in and let the healing begin; and with all of his latest headaches, no one would blame him for it.
But then, if he actually is a dedicated leader, Bagramian, shouldn't let someone else pull the plug just because things get tough.
Students don't have enough information to predict what road Bagramian will take or to even know which player to root for.
One side of the story is that the board has been uncooperative with Bagramian; not wanting to let an outsider into their circle. Like a bunch of schoolyard bullies ganging up on the new kid, the board has been accused of pow-wowing to get Bagramian out of office right after he was elected.
The other side of the story is that the executive council is completely accurate and Bagramian is the one who is uncooperative and unwilling to listen to his executive council members' opinions. In other words, he doesn't play well with others.
Regardless of who started what, or who said what to whom, Bagramian has obviously failed to endear himself to his fellows. Perhaps that's his biggest mistake. But is it his only mistake?
With just two months remaining in Bagramian's one-year term, the board wants him out of office, claiming that he's failed to fulfill campaign promises.
Oh, please. Name one ASU president, or any politician for that matter, who has fulfilled all of their campaign promises. Even last year's ever-popular, excruciatingly handsome and charismatic ASU President James Brevard couldn't do that, despite his chiseled muscles, magnificent wit and perfect smile. Sigh.
