Life in a fishbowl

When Joe Citizen enters public office, his personal life inescapably enters the public realm.

But does the same hold true for students elected to positions in the Student Association?

Absolutely.

The Student Association is a government that is meant to address the concerns of the UB undergraduate population, run by officials elected by the student body. Whether in or out of the university setting, these elected officials represent all students at this institution, and inevitably their public and private actions and remarks become part of the public domain.

They live in a fishbowl.

When you choose to live a public life, it's all or nothing.

Unfortunately, our student representatives sometimes misrepresent UB's student body, violating the trust instilled in their offices and casting a dim light on their constituents.

One such incident took place last spring at the SA Club Awards and Induction Dinner when SA President Viqar Hussain made thoughtless racial jokes about African Americans and Palestinians. What was said was not only ignorant, but also hurtful.

Now another SA official is posing a serious threat to the integrity of the students through his postings on Facebook.

Supporting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, claiming that President George W. Bush is the Devil, and both villainizing the Israeli people and denouncing their country are fine as private sentiments - everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Airing such polarizing and, to some, offensive opinions - especially at the 10th leading university in international enrollment - is an egregious breach of trust between elected officials and their constituents.

It would, of course, be equally tasteless for an elected person to do such a thing as openly canonize President Bush or cry foul on Palestinian efforts.

A lapse in judgment such as this is inexcusable and completely asinine.

His statements and his association with groups that some find extremely insulting raise questions as to his ability to adequately represent the students of this university.

So herein lays a choice: choose to stand for the student body, or choose to promote personal views.

Either choice means understanding that privacy is relative.