This article originally appeared on page 17 of the No. 4 February 2025 edition of The Gettysburgian magazine.
By Joey Labrie, Guest Columnist
“Senate Works For You,” an innocuous phrase strewn across campus. In recent memory, that has been true, as Senate worked for the student body. Students enjoy the lights over Stine Lake installed by former College Life Advisory Committee chair Miranda Zamora ’23 every night. Every day we see the measurable impact of the bike share program installed by chair Drew Lemon ’24. Today, the new chairs discuss soft serve ice cream dispensers in Servo, or even spending thousands of dollars of tuition money for standup desks as the college struggles through a financial crisis.
A chairmanship once viewed as a stepping stone to student body president—with the above chairs being elected to that office — has experienced a sharp decline mirroring the degradation of the institution as a whole. Even more recently, Senate debated installing a swing set using funds earmarked for campus improvements from an inaccessible lockbox. What was once a prestigious and powerful institution meaningfully contributing to student life has devolved into a body marked by out-of-touch priorities and a culture of apathy. The Executive Board meant to lead it has shown itself to be blunderous, factionalized, and ruled by personal animus instead of the steady hand it must be. Senate may have once worked for you, but it simply doesn’t anymore.
Having served in Senate from all levels, from voting-member to the executive board and class officer, I’ve seen challenges from many perspectives. While there are many students in Senate who faithfully serve their community, a culture of apathy has taken hold over the institution and its highest leadership.
Considering all that has happened in the past five years, who could blame a pandemic mindset for setting in? The inability of Senate leaders to adapt has become increasingly concerning. I tried myself to legislate change, hoping to build accountability for a system that increasingly bucked responsibility. Unfortunately, successive administrations would fail to take up this mantle or simply ignore it. The issue with legislating culture is that it cannot be achieved through policy alone; it requires consistent leadership, active engagement and a collective commitment to change. Actions, attitudes and priorities shape culture, and without leaders who are willing to address apathy head-on, even the most well-crafted policies will fall short. Increasingly, these policies are outright ignored in favor of expediency to the detriment of students.
For years, there’s been growing issues within Senate, but this year it became abundantly clear that the priorities of the Executive Board were less about governance and more about personal aggrandizement. While examples within the past five months are too numerous to name, in my opinion, the most egregious event recently occurred. In the process of passing policy, the Executive Board violated four different portions of the Constitution, and when I attempted to use my expertise to correct the deficiencies, I was ignored and threatened. In daring to speak up, I was threatened with censure by apparent personal friends of the board.
Invoking a lack of impartiality and personal bias, I was never recognized again during my term, including giving reports from my constituents or making motions to modify policy or budgets. Further, in passing policy so fraudulently, the Executive Board effectively created a system to remove all opposition within the institution in under 30 minutes, creating pure dictatorial power for an organization that manages over $90,000.
I resigned my seat as a senator for the class of 2025 for two reasons: in protest of what this board has become and to ensure that my class had proper representation despite the personal bias that was exhibited. At the time of writing, my former voting seat remains vacant and unfilled by the Executive Board, ensuring that the class of 2025 is underrepresented.
Fundamentally, the solution is not found by looking backward but rather moving forward. Senate needs a new direction guided by the next generation of Gettysburgian leaders. To the first-years, sophomores and juniors who feel disconnected from what Senate has become, it is your time to pick up the mantle. In the last campus-wide election — which had record student voter turnout — only 23% of students voted. In most elections, it can take less than a few dozen votes to gain a voting seat or simply win by default. This is not representative of the student body or its priorities. If you truly want Senate to work for you, it starts with you working for Senate — whether by running for a position or voting out those who let apathy fester. Change begins when you step up, take action and lead the way.
