Editorial: RHA as satire: Mistake a hilarious microcosm

No, we're not talking about President Clinton's Senate impeachment trial. Rather, we're discussing Thursday's two-hour long, contentious Residence Hall Association argument over a just punishment for their president, Matt Meaker, who admittedly violated the student group's constitution to the tune of $58.

Indeed, it was a dark day for the students who live in the residence halls of this fine institution, residents who look to RHA to represent their views and needs to administrators, faculty members and other students. Meaker stood before 100 of his colleagues and acknowledged he did, in fact, use $58 dollars to take a group of committee members to a "dead day" breakfast without the constitutionally required approval of the association's financial director.

And, however obvious it may be, the ensuing debate over what punishment to exact from Meaker does reflect in many ways that ongoing event back in Washington, D.C.

Meaker, who admits violating a clearly articulated, though technical, constitutional mandate to seek approval for expenditures, was threatened with impeachment or suspension from office, but cooler heads appear to have prevailed. Instead of surrendering his office, Meaker will have to write an open letter apologizing for his conduct. However, Meaker will face investigation into his $58 blunder - an investigation with no specificity.

If this university community trauma doesn't have microcosm written all over it, nothing does.

The full airing of Meaker's foible, like a full Senate trial of the President, does two things: One, for those who feel integrity is a question of technicality, it offers a chance to pillory the accused; two, for those who see the prosecution as a persecution, the resulting publicity should expose Meaker's enemies as politically motivated hacks, choking on their own moralistic bile. One might also note that Meaker's public candor about his inappropriate behavior took the wind out of impeachment's sails, in marked contrast to Clinton's apparent reticence. Still, one might argue that Meaker's decision to " accept whatever you guys see fit," was a capitulation to the asinine, an abdication Clinton has refused to make.

In the end, like Clinton's possible removal, ousting Meaker this close to the end of his term would have practically no effect. A new Tara Taylor in khakis would simply spring up in his place.

Now, we wait for this essentially carte blanche investigation to wrap itself up so we can, student, faculty, staff, and especially RHA members, put this ugly episode behind us. In the meantime, it bears notice that one all-to-level-headed RHA member suggested Meaker wear a dress to the next RHA meeting. If only Trent Lott had thought of that one.