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Opinion

SGA failing students in coffee debate

Taylor Gibson
Guest Columnist

There has been a lot of discussion about adapting our campus to sell only fair trade-certified coffee. There have been many misconceptions and incorrect statements made concerning fair-trade coffee, especially by members of the Student Government Association.

When the Senate debated the issue last week, I heard one member say for the second time that selling only fair-trade coffee "doesn't benefit the students." Perhaps that SGA member doesn't realize the same logic of "it doesn't benefit us" was used to argue for the continuation of the apartheid system in South Africa and for propagating segregation here in our country.

Many senators were also concerned that they would be "forcing" a change on the student body. However, Students for Fair Trade presented more than 500 signatures in two petitions in support of its resolution. 

Many senators said they feel as if they are "protecting" students by making sure they have a "choice" to buy non-fair-trade coffee -- coffee that is sourced from exploited workers. But not one student has spoken out against the fair-trade coffee resolution during public comment segments at the SGA meetings where it was discussed.

At Wednesday's meeting, concerns were voiced that SGA was not the proper organization to consider fair-trade coffee. This attitude shows an ignorance of U.S. history. Our history shows that a huge amount of social change has been made through legislative bodies. 

The 13th Amendment that freed the slaves, the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote, fair labor and housing laws, and various clean air and water acts are just a few examples. What kind of society would we be living in if we were told our issues should not be brought before our elected representatives?

Another common sentiment voiced by the SGA is that fair-trade coffee is a noble cause, but that it shouldn't take away choice from students. SFT has done an enormous amount of outreach to get the student body's input on this bill. The organization educated the students, faculty, staff and alumni for almost a year before approaching the SGA. A statistically significant portion of the campus community has made a choice: It's for fair-trade coffee. Unfortunately, SGA members prefer to decide amongst themselves when they vote on a bill that affects the entire student body.

Perhaps the attitudes displayed by SGA members are why there is so much apathy toward the student government. Less than 4 percent of the student body voted in the SGA elections last month. 

The Senate will not have more credibility if it chooses to ignore one of the largest and most organized campaigns to come before it. There seems to be little opposition to this bill.

The reason people get disgusted with the political system is because elected representatives ignore the will of the people. That is what is happening with the SGA and fair-trade coffee. 

The SGA should listen to the student body's concerns and advance them. By not doing so, it will be viewed as an irrelevant group of do-nothings, intent on building their résumés instead of building student interest.

Gibson, a hotel and restaurant management freshman, 
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu