Opinions

As the school’s foremost democratic organizations, the Parents’ Association (PA) and Student Union (SU) are responsible for improving the Stuyvesant community. Yet neither has objectively considered the SU-College Office switch.

According to the PA’s bylaws, its purpose is not only “to provide support and resources to the school for the benefit and growth of all children,” but also to “encourage parent participation at all levels.”

However, the PA has not acted admirably with regards to the proposed SU-College Office switch. PA leaders have both ignored the students’ concerns about the switch and failed to inform other PA members about this opposition. Representatives attacked students at the SLT meeting held on Tuesday, February 6. In one such instance, PA Co-President Paola de Kock referred to members of the SU as “arrogant, self-centered bullies.”

In a letter distributed at the same SLT meeting, the PA questioned why “16 students should make this important decision for the more than 3,100 students who attend Stuyvesant,” referring to the SU-College Office switch.

The parents who wrote the letter were elected through a similar process as student representatives. Yet the PA feels that SU officials do not represent their constituency, an accusation that is alarmingly hypocritical.

In this instance, the SU, an organization meant to represent the wishes of the student body, is not behaving responsibly either. According to the SU Web site, “The SU is dedicated to serving the community which it represents.” The SU is not upholding this promise and is allowing internal conflicts get in the way of protecting student welfare.

Both the PA and the SU must put arguments aside and come to an agreement regarding the SU-College Office switch. Only then will the PA and SU be able to return to serving the community to the best of their ability.