UB's North Campus sits in what has quickly become Buffalo's most (in)famous suburb: Amherst, N.Y.
From sinking homes to all-out war with Wal-Mart, Amherst has it all... including celebrity town supervisor, Satish Mohan.
Mohan's job in Amherst is similar to that of a mayor. Some, however, think of him more as a dictator.
The former UB professor's latest antics involve the installment of a new policy at town board meetings, whereby residents can no longer use such adjectives as "foolish" to describe persons or policy during the public comment potion of a board meeting.
Mohan claims that the new policy is meant to foster politeness. In actuality, it sounds more like the trampling of the right to free speech.
According to Mohan, he will enforce the new rule by revoking one's right to speak at the meetings after using such "inappropriate" language.
Just as the Student Association has a set of rules they must follow, the Amherst Town Board has a similar rule book, albeit an older one - the United States Constitution.
For Mohan's sake, his new policy would be golden had the founding fathers added another rule guaranteeing a person the right to never be offended or treated impolitely.
Sadly though, our fathers overlooked that one and went with free speech, so all we're left with is an unjust, foolish policy instated by a myopic, authoritarian politician.
In an unlikely upset, Mohan beat out incumbent supervisor Susan Grelick for his job just 15 months ago, and since that time the political first timer's career has been full of flubs and controversy.
Mohan's legacy began the first week he entered office when he insisted on physically signing the paycheck of every Amherst town employee - as a result, the checks were delivered several days late.
Back in July, Mohan unwarrantedly called an aggressive TV news reporter "racist."
Some love Mohan's aggressive and tenacious attitude, while other residents and town employees alike have called for his resignation and have begun an "impeach Satish" campaign. Those folks might even dare to say his actions are, well, "foolish."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
