'Hell' and the student government

The Undergraduate Student government met last week amidst much controversy and debate over the proposed abolishment of "constituencies" in USG. Besides the usual tension that comes with government debates, there was much discomfort in the room over a video posted to the Internet the night before by a former USG member about a current representative.

Last year, former USG Assemblyman Zachariah Wiedeman pushed through a proposal that would create "constituencies" for representatives in USG, so that some seats would be "at-large" and held by anyone but that others would be reserved for people from different sections of the university. This year, Assemblywoman Megan Calcaterra has led an effort to excise constituencies from the constitution.

Wiedeman argues that constituencies are in place in order for USG to stay connected with the student body as a whole as well as to distinguish between the needs of different student groups at UIC. He also claims that if constituencies are existent, voter turnout on Election Day will likely be higher due to the fact that students would recognize that their potential needs are in the balance.

A central concern about constituencies is the interpretation of the constitution that students who are members of more than one have the opportunity to vote for a candidate of each constituency to which they belong, whereas a student who is a member of only one has but one vote. Others have criticized constituencies as being an unwieldy and unnecessary structure.

Wiedeman argues that the students who are members of more than one constituency have the choice of which constituency they will vote in.

The resolution to amend the constitution failed to receive the 2/3rds vote necessary to pass. However, a resolution to suspend the standing rules regarding constituencies was passed, effectively putting the rules under review by a committee established for this purpose. This move has been criticized by Wiedeman, who says that the Assembly does not have the power to do that.

The elephant in the room at the meeting was a video that Wiedeman posted to the Internet the night before about Calcaterra. In the video, Wiedeman shows footage he shot of Calcaterra half a year ago that helped cause the disqualification of Students for Better Government in the spring election and, through narrative text, implies that Calcaterra is a "cheat" and an "elitist," and accuses her of being a criminal. The point was underlined and sharpened by the background music Wiedeman chose for the video: "Take a Bow," by Muse. "You will risk all their lives and their souls. / And burn, you will burn, / You will burn in hell, yeah you'll burn in hell. / You'll burn in hell, yeah you'll burn in hell for your sins."

In the leadup to the meeting, several members of USG expressed concern over the video to the Chicago Flame. For her part, Calcaterra expresses dismay and confusion over the incident.

"The first time I watched the video I was too distracted reading the statements to pay attention to the lyrics of the song. It wasn't until my roommate commented on how disturbing they were that I really gave them a listen," says Calcaterra. "I was quite shocked at the sentiment that the lyrics conveyed. The message came through loud and clear though."

She went on to say that "Zachariah is an RA with campus housing. I believe that university employees should conduct themselves with more dignity. The inappropriately threatening tone of the video should go without mention. Harassment on this level, for me, is unacceptable by a UIC student and employee."

Wiedeman did not respond to a request for comment on the appropriateness of his message, the feelings it was meant to convey, or his thoughts composing the video. USG advisor and Assistant Dean of Students J. Malcolm Smith was also asked to comment on the appropriateness of the video but did not respond to the Flame's inquiry.

Two new members were elected to USG at the meeting: Sean Murray and Alma Zamudio.