The Justice

Our student government, like all governments, gets its share of criticism, much of it deserved. But one member of the student government who deserves much more praise than criticism is Student Union President Jason Gray '10. We at Brandeis are lucky to have a student leader like Mr. Gray in this tumultuous era in our University's history. Mr. Gray's accessibility and constant vigilance have benefited our student body in significant ways over the past few weeks.

Mr. Gray has consistently risen above the sometimes petty arguments that frequently embroil members of any government. The high-stakes Jan. 22 faculty budget meeting, which featured a student protest-and promptly became old news in light of the Rose Art Museum decision-kick-started a series of student-administration conflicts that kept Mr. Gray in meetings with both parties daily. After the Friday, Jan. 16 mass e-mail informing students that they could no longer use their merit scholarships toward study abroad, Mr. Gray sprang into action, scheduling meetings the very next Monday to try to get the decision overturned.

In the ensuing days, the administration began to re-examine its initial decision and is continuing to do so as we speak. Throughout the semester, Mr. Gray has been mediating between frustrated students and administration in a professional, effective way. By helping to organizing open forums and helping to argue for the students' cause in administrative meetings, he has served the student body well.

At the Jan. 22 faculty budget meeting, a conflict between Innermost Parts bloggers demanding to be allowed inside and Assistant Provost of Graduate Student Affairs Alwina Bennett threatened to turn ugly when police were called in to restrain the bloggers. After hearing of the situation from observers, Mr. Gray came to the scene, where he respectfully approached the police officers, asking to talk to the angry students as their peer and leader. The officers conceded, and Mr. Gray calmly talked the bloggers down. The bloggers and police left the building, and no arrests were made.

Mr. Gray signs his e-mails, "Yours in service." Such a closing might sound affected from another student government representative. Mr. Gray, however, has truly made good on his role as our most powerful student leader. His office is up for re-election this spring, and if he chooses to run again, his track record so far this semester will make him a formidable candidate. If not, he'll be a hard act to follow.

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