Schneider Resigns!

It took longer than expected, but Dave Schneider did right by the side of the movement. Justin Wooten and the Progress hardliners should pat themselves on the back right now -- though there's not much left to be happy about. Much like the Fall 2005, the mainstream Indie's once again had their way over the more GDI hardliners (see Impact/Progress 'Marriage').

Like Bruce Haupt, Dave Schneider has now accepted his fate - being cast into the wilderness. A man without a party. Schneider and Wooten may be the Grapski's of the next generation.

The independent movement has been pirated no different than many vessels off the Cape of Good Hope. Ben Cavataro, the senator that called down the fight for Alan Passman, the senator that was MIRACULOUSLY SPARED from Greek/FBK scrutiny over his re-election as Hume Senator, is now the "independent's candidate for student body president."

God save the movement.

Vote FBK/Greek for SBT

Independents & GDI's -- even those working directly for the Student Alliance Party must split their ballots and make a statement in the upcoming elections. More critical that electing Ben Cavataro, the decisive effort will be at achieving a noticeable discrepancy between the votes for SBP/SBVP & SBT.

There should be no place for racial, ethnic, or religious based zealots in representative student government. It's a mistake on a variety of fundamental moral notes and potentially will lead to the complete alienation of thousands of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students throughout the typical American college campus.

The Student Alliance Party should be uniformly condemned by the Gainesville Left, as well as condemned by the Arab & Muslim communities. Furthermore, the Student Alliance Party should be condemned by all Friends of the Arab & Muslims communities, respectively.

Soon these last remnant-offspring of the '06 turncoats will have graduated and a new era (hopefully more in line with the greats like Argento, Harrell, Grapski) will re-emerge. Traditionally, independents could be democratic or republican (b/c it was really never about that), but in hindsight the best Indies are left-wing and the righties are always highly suspect.

Student Alliance is running a South Florida, Belen-educated, republican, fmr. treasurer & fmr. president of Gators For Israel for the second most powerful post in the entire institution of Student Government.

The Independent Movement Is Dead.

Dear Mr. Antar

Mr. Antar,

Let me begin by thanking you for your well-written letter. And let me also say that I will gladly interview you in the coming days (please expect my questions within 48hrs).

As far as the substance of my post. Your father should be proud he lived in one of the last Secular, muslim-populated states. Syria, despite Western propaganda, is the only secular Arab state that has not offered or sold its balls to the West (e.g. Jordan, Egypt, and at times even Libya).

This issue has nothing to do with religion. Tel-Aviv is about nationalism, no different than the Pan-Arabism of Nasser. My gripe is not with Islam or Judaism - they are both beautiful religions, based on peace and love, and both largely misunderstood by snotty young know-it-all pseudo intellectuals that base their theories on modern disciplines and try their best to ignore the Koran & Torah, respectively.

You are correct in your historical points insofar as Swamp & Gator. But these finer points were not centrally at issue. What is at issue is 'the alternative.' The FBK/Greek Machine has the long tradition of insensitivity towards the Arab & Muslim students through the political administration's its put in office in UF-SG. That having been said, for the "Indies" to now ALSO participate in that option is a slap in the face to every Arab and Muslim student at the University of Florida -- there is now effectively NO ONE in this 'representational form of government' that represents them. If the SBT were to punish Arab groups like Nakba or Friends of Palestine, who will the Arabs & their friends take their grievance to in a Student Alliance administration - Ben Cavatero? Yeah, I'm sure he's quite unbiased -- not b/c he's Jewish (Judaism is NOT, NOT, NOT Zionism), but b/c he surely had his hand in the SBT pick, that's why!

The point, Mr. Antar, is that you should demand that SBT candidate step down to honor your father, your people, and your own individual identity. In this life, we are judged by our actions -- not merely our words or our intentions.

If you are liberated enough to break bread with and work towards mutual electoral victory with a person that's presided over an organization that supports apartheid, worse than apartheid, then you are a more liberated man than I.

Thank you for your letter. May the 4.5 million people of Palestine be restored the pre-1967 borders - per United Nations resoution. May Palestinian children not play at gunpoint, may they have access to clean water, may they be citizen in the land of their birth.

The people that suffer under Zionism, behind the the barbed wire and in fear of the tanks & air raids are not suicide bombers, they are not in PIJ, Hamas, or even Fatah. They are normal, everyday people - displaced people - tired people.

Sincerely,

Mr. Duque

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Dear Mr. Duque,


As a long time reader and avid supporter, I take offended by your most recent qcolumn entitled "A Tradition Rich in Insensitivity". I feel that your insight has been misguided and misrepresented toward an unsightful democracy. Was it not the Swamp Party that gave students the necessary funds to go to AIPAC? Was it not the Gator Party who REFUSED to CONDEMN the Radical Islam Movie?

I say these things just to illustrate my point. My name is Tyler Hisham Antar and I am running for a 3rd time with the opposition party with the Student Alliance Party. My father is a dedicated Muslim who grew up in Syria and was forced to fight in the 6 days war. I have always felt proud considering myself an Arab American running for a grad seat with the Student Alliance Party and I wouldn't have it any other way. My experiences towards the deepest darkest places of Lebanon and Dubai have taught me what its really like to be a Muslim Arab. I would love to be interviewed by you about the Student Alliance's view toward Arab-Americans. As always, you are free to re-publish my statement regardless if you interview me or not.....



Sincerely,
Tyler Hisham Antar

A Tradition Rich in Insensitivity

""Progress is dead. Now they've taken a shit on the corpse."

Justin Wooten

"Due to his outstanding service as Treasurer, Yaniz was elected President of Gators for Israel in 2009."

Quoted from: http://www.ufstudentalliance.com/node/13

Who can forget Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West? Who can forget SG=funded ads making UF students distrustful of their fellow Arab & Muslim studens? Who can forget SG-sponsored trips to AIPAC's National Conference? Who can forget when the Zionist lobby united to oust a progressive, Jewish cabinet director named Peter David Gruskin from office in late 2004?

SG has rich tradition in insenitivity towards members of the University's Muslim & Arab populations, as well as against those few tried & true friends that amount to the greater community.

But UF is the exception - here - the battle-lines are clearly drawn in the sand. Here, the Zionists cannot make this about Judaism vs. Arabs & Muslims, because at UF, some of the most prominent leaders and friends of the downtrodden-upon communities have been courageous Jews unwilling to allow their religion to be hijacked by a group of relgiously-devoid, nationalistically-driven radical zealots.

Zionists know about as much of the Torah or the Talmud, as Republicans in America know about hunger and need in the United States - nothing! Zionists hijacked the Jewish religion and use it for their own nefarious aims: such as deposing a people from the lands and forcing them into bantustans where they're forced to live surrounded by barbwire, patrolled by tanks, attacked by air, denied citizenry, and subjected to sub-human treatment. The Zionists carry these horrors in the name of a religion that before their arrival, was deeply-rooted in peace, co-existence, and love.

Some people in America think 911 when they hear muslim fundamentalism, but perhaps more Americans when hearing the term Zionism, should think King David Hotel and USS Liberty -- just a thought.

Enough of a tangent. I'd like to congratulate the socially-conscious and tactful UF student body community for having a party that's selected the president of Gators for Israel (a group at times even considered fringe by JSU) as its candidate for Student Body Treasurer (hereinafter "SBT").

The SBT at the University of Florida's Student Government is a key, strategic post. First of all, if my memory serves me correctly, this post holds veto powers on all fiscal matters (as well as wields considerable influence on the Senate's Budget & Allocation committees, respectively). The SBT is elected separately from the President/V.P. slot and his/her numbers are usually indicative for [the] future presidential run. The post of SBT is a key post and as eluded to previously - is a strong stepping stone for SBP (extending a potentially unpopular leader's reign to a full two years).

It's absolutely, without question, unconscionable that any party would run the leader of an organization such as GFI for a top representational post of leadership as SBT.

This may be another 2006 - when this blog endorsed the Greek/FBK Ticket. And I'll have no worries doing so again, today. No "independent party" would ever commit such a grave and degrading action against entire ethnic & religious communities at the University of Florida.

Grapski & Indie-Union

2010 will prove a major year for UF Independents - as it seems the scars have healed - we'll be asking Justin Wooten & Alan Yanuck just to be sure though. If the Indies are united, however, it will be a huge year for the united front.

In other news, I'd really like to discuss Charlie Grapski and continue stress his relevance in Indie politics (now more than ever) in 2010. Grapski, from his work in Alachua, to his trial, conviction, and upcoming appeals should be studied carefully.

I feel awful I had to miss my mentor's wedding, but I had finals - I still feel awful about it and never answwered my close friend Andrew Hoffman's voicemail about when I'd be showing up -- I was seriously depressed over it, sorry bro.

In any event, I know James had a wonderful day and I only hope I can shake his hand one day soon. Congrats to you old friend -- w/o you there would have never been such a successful and true Yellow & Blue.

Happy New Year, everyone!

TheRadikal Eyes Spring '10 Elections

This is the second longest rut in Radikal History, but I assure everyone that I will cover the upcoming elections (alongside & prolly to the same degree as fellow blogger Ken Kerns). I hope everyone has a Happy (& Safe) New Year!

New Diet Phase 'n Training Heavy!

Today is Day1 of 10. It's time tweak my body's insulin resistance and hawkishly monitor sugars, protein, and bad fats. I lost about 50lbs since stopping my diet in early October. These next 10 days will set the tone for the next stage of fat loss. I'm at around 290 (up 10lbs. creatine/waxymaize intake) right now and expect to be down to 265/270 by mid-January (still on 10g of creatine and .75-1g/lb protein). At that point I'll look to enter my first show, pull the supplements and lose 10-15lbs of water and walk on stage ripped to the bone at 250/255.

I can tell you right now... that at 250 I'll be amazingly vascular and cut -- but I also know I'll want to keep that crispness and those cuts, but I'll hate being so small. That's where it's going to really get tricky. What will I do?

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Treadmill, Stairs, Elyptical... PAIN is PLEASURE

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Grapski in Hot Water

My good friend Charles Grapski was found guilty of 2 out of five charges in court and it's becoming very likely that he will serve hard time in state prison. Grapksi led the independent movement in the 1990's and won a six-figure lawsuit against a secret society that has influenced (to put it mildly) our University's Student Government for decades - no closing in on a century. This secret society still has a huge chunk of reps and senators in Florida's Congress, not to mention the United States House of Representatives.

Whatever your campus politics may be (b/c at UF SG stays w/ us for a lifetime... it's undeniable that Grapski left a huge mark on the scene and influenced countless student leaders to take up positions of leadership, public service, and social justice not only in Gainesville, but abroad. Grapski is a friend to the GDI Movement and we wish him only the best.

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Stupid Government Wrong Again

I wonder if the United States Congress strives to one day see American men with bigger breasts than their wives and more fat that Barney from the Simpsons. Fat lardasses, huffing and puffing after climbing a flight of stairs, croking in the infancy of their 'old age' from an assortment of easily preventable illnesses from diabetes to cardiac arrest.

Anabolic Steroids shouldn't be illegal - that's the biggest crock of shit the gov't has sold you - the American public. With the exception of a little acne, some hair growth, and slightly higher cholesterol levels... AAS have jaw dropping benefits. Everything from birth control to astma inhalers to sexual health products to legal-overpriced "hormone replacement therapy" (try getting your HMO to pay for that...lmao) fall under the umbrella of AAS and bio-identical drugs.

Look at Arnold... Mr. Olympia, top-paid Hollywood movie icon, 2x Governor of California -- Steroid User. He was on the gear in the 60's when he was taking photos with the Blonde Bomber (Dave Draper); he was on the sauce for all 70's Olympia streak; he was juicin for his 1980 "comeback" where allegedly won the contest...; he was saucing for the Conan movies and NOTHING! Sly Stallone was taking a truckload of HGH and everyone went to watch his movie and he's doin just fine at like 130yrs old with shredded abs, flaring quads, peaked out bi's, horseshoe tris, and a chest that's hard, balanced, striated, and cross-striated. The guy looks amazing!

Anyways..why the post? Well as I was doing cardio this morning (3:30AM), I started thinking about how fucked up it is that WADA just banned Androstratrione (the very last pseudo pro-hormone [pseudo b/c it doesn't actually increase test, it inhibits estrogen)]. The stupid politicians are all in the hip pocket of the pharmaceutical companies -- they're the biggest drug peddlers out there and they will charge Americans at 20:1 rates, as compared with their Canadian counterparts. Our government let's these whitecollar hustlers to get away with it.

Low testosterone ain't healthy you stupid mf'ers!!! People in this country stuff their faces with grains (look at what kids are eating is school -- SHIT! CARDBOARD CARBLOADED SHIT!) We have shockingly high rates of gyno in men in this country -- MEN SHOULDN'T HAVE TITS! MEN shouldn't suffer from ED at the high rates they do in this country. Do you know that in 2003 and 2005 the Federal government cracked down on all pro-hormones? Do you know that in 2005 the Federal Government made Ephedrine 10x harder to obtain and actually raided supplement companies? Do you know that RIGHT now, thanks to the bozos at WADA, even anti-ESTROGENS are being removed from the market? You can no longer find the following on bodybuilding.com:

6 OXO
Novedex XT
Methyl 1-D
Formadrol
11 OXO

It's 2003, 2004, and 2005 all over again. I heard LG Sciences has agreed to destroy over $1.3 million in inventory (according to a message board thread on a popular bodybuilding website). You'd think the supplement comapanies have lobbies? You'd think they'd duke it out with the morons on Capitol Hill, but not the case. It's just easier to go back to the labs and hack new molecular chains to create even more complex, less tested, less understood chains for new lines. That's probably one of the biggest issues I have w/ the government. They ban first and ask questions later... they have conducted virtually no clinical studies on AAS and yet they continue to speak with a level of certainty that's not only straightfaced, but damn near sinister.

The few clinical studies (double and triple blind studies) from respectable institutions readily dismiss such absurdities as "roid rage" and AAS related behavioral conditions. For those of you obsessed with test-shrinkage -- realize that the change is temporary (and the most testes will reduce in size is 20%). This 'shrinkage' is reversed with proper off cycle therapy (where the body naturally restores levels in test/E ratios - the idea of PCT is to help the body take back control of its normal processes.

I swear... you run into so much ignorance out there, even within the halls of academica, so many morons out there. Anyways, I've never taken, but the second they're legal, I'm taking a test drive. Though I'm blue to the core (Democrat), I had so much respect for Fmr. Speak Newt Gingrich just came out said it in his Little Red Book of the Republican Revolution - I still have that somewhere at home in Florida. I would have seriously considered voting for that guy on ATTITUDE alone. He openly admitted smoking DOPE and he'd sleep work his ass off all night, wakeup in his office, and go around the Hill with his hair all messed up and his shirt all wrinkled. I loved that guy... that's a workhorse and they fucked him - his own party and his own colleagues -- b/c you can't actually work in D.C. -- it tends to upstage all the bureaucrats filling their pockets with checks and then unloading all sorts of nonsense on the ill-informed (by choice) public.

If there were more Newts and a few more Dennis'es and a couple Ron Pauls in for good measure -- policy might still shift back and forth along party lines, but I wouldn't be posting this thinkpiece right here and you'd all have a hell of a lot more freedom.

Merger Talks: A Look Closer

Indie Unity is a mutual goal for students and alumni alike. Ater almost a year of division, the Officials and the Progs seem poised to dialogue, but when asked what the most difficult hurdle would be for a merger, some were willing to share - and others - in the hopes of not 'stirring up trouble' opted to keep their comments private (meaning, not for publication).

"The clowning and sophistry that's been used by former O&B leaders has got to make way for effective activism in the name of our interests in Student Government.

Fernando Figueroa
Progress Party Supporter

To be fair, Figueroa's initial response seemed almost to match this blog's to the "t." Fernando, like TheRadikal, represents a large segment of the Indie community that wants a merger, but does not want the the Progs to lose that grassroots edge in global matters and that flare for campus activism.

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Who Are The Negotiators?

O&B:
Cavataro, Ossip, Sautin, Morales, and Hargrove

PROGRESS:
Schneider, Mildebrath, Martinez, Wooten, and Garrett.

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My dinner is ready. I'll be adding more to this post.

Charles Grapski Prepares for Victory

After a long, often-questioned and largely written-off political stalemate between progressives and neo-conservatives in the City of Alachua, it seems now everything is coming full circle. Grapski, a staunch critic of Florida Blue Key and UF President Bernie Machen, is all for beating the charges on their merits - or lack thereof.

CHARGES
Trespassing
Resisting Arrest with Violence
(3x) Battery on a Law Enforcement officer

In an informal chat on the website Facebook.com, Grapski and Christian Duque of TheRadikal.com discussed matters dealing with the present legal case, as well as media coverage. Grapski believes that Gainesville Sun editor Jim Osteen refuses to cover him in a positive light, he also believes the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee is a joke - I agree with him.

Grapski expressed his desire to beat the charges, making mention of plea deals he's rejected that would have made the charges go away, when attached to time served.

"Sun's managing editor Jim O'Steen has told a member of the public on several occasions that they will not write anything on me that is positive. I'm not making that up."

Charles Grapski

I, personally, don't know what Mr. Osteen may or may not have said, but I've let him know of this post and I do hope he'll write back so that I may include his opinion(s). I will say that if it is true, I think that the paper's readership is done a great disservice.

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Thinking Outloud

TheRadikal.com wishes Charles Grapski all the best in his legal battle, as well as his attorneys Joe Little and Steve Bernstein. Charlie and I haven't seen eye-to-eye on everything in a long time, but he remains a HUGE historical figure and source of inspiration for the UF Independent Movement. Grapski's case made the world (but maybe more importantly the UF student and alumni communities)aware that a secret society existed, that a secret society ran the school through a 'good ole boy network'; that the Independent movement DID have a purpose and we were about a lot more than simply being 'the other guys', the people not in the top tier houses or the pretty boys with congressional district seats waiting for them upon graduation. Indies and GDI's (both democrats and republicans -- really rather a moot point for SG) owe Grapski a huge part of their history - this is why guys like Thomas Jardon and Justin Wooten (polar opposites in non-SG political matters) both consider Grapski a huge influence insofar as student leadership goes.

Grapski, Kerns, Argento, Duque, Gruskin, Jardon, Haupt, Miorelli, Dictor, Trimboli, Wooten, and ..... are the independent movement. We have a history and a legacy and this site is just a little proof of that.

And the legacy isn't about which guys ran the biggest parties or won the most votes... an example... Robert's Unite pounded Haupt's Pants -- which yes sounds a bit RAUNCHY...but... the point is, in terms of Indie History, Haupt is a federal senator and Roberts is chairman of a local, rural, deep southern Ad-Hoc Mosquito Control Board. No offense to Adam, but his party ran a candidate rejected not once (but twice by the Machine), it ran absorbed a "party" comprised by jocks with the combined iq of a pigskin, and it fathered more turncoats than Gene Simmons of KISS has had one night stands.

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Awesome Pic, New FB Friend
I, too, am pushing for a merger...
but I want guys like Fernando & Justin &
Grasshopper to be included at the table.

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Trimboli's General Statement

"We are about winning, because if we don’t win we can’t do what we’ve set out to do.

Everybody has lost sight of this fundamental truth. Egos and personalities have been the sole driving force of the Independent Movement since the end of 2008. (1) Viewing what we do through these two lenses is both self-serving and accomplishes nothing. We cannot claim to speak for those students outside the current system who lack a voice in our Student Government while at the same time centering everything on individual people and personalities rather than on policy and action.

So where do we go from here?

First, all markers need to be abolished; that is to say the abandonment of both party’s names, color schemes, and slogans (2). The single biggest obstacle to the unification of any sorts of groups is overcoming each individual group's cultural markers. In the case of nations those are things such as languages, symbols, religions, education systems, and history (including historical figures). In our case these markers are primarily party names, party colors, and party slogans. The ideologies of the two parties are congruent (3), it can hardly be said where one ends and the other begins. This unification needs to be a merger of equals in the truest of senses and the only way this will be accomplished is to start tabula rasa. The only thing from the past that need be remembered, held onto, cherished and never forgotten is the hard learned lesson that divided we are doomed to failure.

Instead, we need a new set of markers to rally around.We need a brand new party name (4), a new party slogan, a clear and concise party mission statement, a set of core party values, a new color scheme and a battle plan of action created and planned in detail for the Spring 2010 campaign and beyond. All of these things should be created by those dedicated individuals in the new unified party, created for the new unified party and agreed upon by the membership of the newly unified party.

There is thousands of years of historical example about the absolute power of cultural markers. People have traveled the world searching for cups, died for colors on cloth hanging from pole. We are being intentionally ignorant and naive if we feel we're going to break the thousands year old power cultural markers have on men's souls. (5)

These conditions of merger should be irrevocable for a minimum of 2 years. (6) That is to say the former names, specific primary color schemes, and slogans of the former two parties are off limits from January 1, 2010 until December 31, 2011. After that time their strategic value can be assessed.

Victory is not out of reach if we choose to work together as brothers rather than perish apart as fools."

RaDiKaL' Review
First off, let me just say this FOR THE RECORD - Joe Trimboli is SG Royalty and has earned his Indie Wings, Brass Bars, and Major's Clusters over the course of internal party scrapes, bureaucratic wrangling, and media blitzes that have stretched as far as the student leader' imagination will reach. This is like 80's hair metal folks, it's not just the sound coming out of the amps, but it's about the LOOK the musicians got goin on and the attitude with which they play their instruments! The fact Trimboli wrote this - with me at least - carries a fuckin wheelbarrow's worth of cred to begin with. Is your ego chubby now Joe? I'm glad I could stroke it for ya...

Now let's dissect this lovely document.


(1) This sounds like Official' rhetoric for Ben Dictor, but he includes the term 'movement,' instead. This could be the start of a sensible new approach to conceeding some of the brunt - that I imagine will be appreciated by the Prog-hardliners like Wooten, Grasshopper, the Geico double, and others.

(2) This will meet with friction from alumni like Ben Dictor and Sam Miorelli - who both built a lot of blood, sweat, and tears (yes even some tears) into these names and neither will be pleased see their legacies chucked in a 2yr wastebasket. Both Miorelli and Dictor while officially-speaking are detached, remain very much in the loop (by alumni SG standards [e.g. James Argento, Access Spring, Summer 2004]).

(3) This, in my opinion, is going to be a hard sale. Progress has a very dynamic, structured world view (thanks to Dictor, Schneider, and Wooten) w/ considerable overlap into SDS, strong links the Civic Media Center through Joe Richard, and even with smaller sector at least somewhat aware of more fiscally conservative policy with the influence of Josh Simmons early on. O&B is no where near the political maturity of O&B, however, O&B bests Progress in chambers and in representing those left-out students that are at the very core of Independent politics... Bring me your tired, your hungry, your poor...

(4) Trimboli is going out on a limb here... a new name is very fair and should be considered by the opposing side. I think there are some ideas out there... unite the indies and gdi's, put up Renfroe for president, stack up the senate slates, make nice w/ the Fist, moon FBK, have a run off, and win. Who knows... you might even count Paul Drayton as a supporter. Is Ms. Renfroe in FBK? I hope so, be kinda lame if they screw her over like Sam Green.

(5) Ok, seriously... who gave Joe the shroom juice? What the hell is he talking about here? lol


(6) Let's work w/ one semester at a time. That's like going on a first w/ a girl and planning with her what some of the things you'll do when she's your girlfriend. I realize you're hoping to reunite the indies so that you can electorally have a circle jerk around the losing FBK-backed candidate next Spring out in front of the Orange & Brew in front of thousands of spectators, but these things take time. I am confident that if the indies truly unite, whoever is the Greek candidate will leave the Brew without the presidency and with a triple pearl necklace of mardi gras elegance.

(7) Also, let's try to clean up the language in here. I'm trying to keep a respectable blog here.

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SG Heavyweights Chime In

"I think Progress has a great image in the eyes of the Student Body. They've also been endorsed twice and received twice the vote of OB in the fall.

I think, if there is a merger, it should be under Progress

But

I think there are probably some clear ideological differences. Tomorrow's debate on the Zionism Bill should demonstrate that

But I am sort of out of the loop.

Yanuck also voted No on workers rights."

Fmr. Sen. Ben Dictor
SBP Runner-Up (PROGRESS)

Facebook is crap. I had all these great quotes that I'm hoping I can get at some later point. In any event, let me actually give an opinon on the whole matter. Give me that I'm graduated as of almost four years and that I've been away from the ville for almost two years.

For starters I want to re-introduce some key terms from the movement.

Independent - a member of a party that doesn't serve FBK/Greek interests; also known generally as 'Indies'; Indies can be Greek-affiliated. (examples: Ricky Caplin (PIKE), Becca Guerra, Kevin Bacon (Lambda Chi), Thomas Jardon,Adam Roberts (ZBT), Andre Samuels Kappa Alpha Psi), Andrew Hoffman, Alan Yanuck (O&B), etc.

GDI - the G*d Damn Independents - these are the ultra-Indies; usually found in very indealistic, usually dead-end parties (see Student Alliance, Pants, Voice, Progress['09]. These guys/gals are often "on the fringes" and while they usually are kept out of Indie Party exec.'s, they are often consulted and used for everything from intell to recruiting to fundraising to canvassing to endorsements in second round elections. Heavyweights here include: James Argento, Kenneth Kerns, Dan Fitzpatrick, Peter Gruskin (FIJI), Ryan Nelson (UNITE), Frank Bracco (O&B), Travis Marsh (KEG), etc).

Hardline GDI - this is a new classification that's truly warranted. These are your GDI up a few knotches. (see Christian Duque (FIJI), Justin Wooten (Progress), Joe Trimboli (O&B), Sam Miorelli (O&B), Ben Dictor, etc

I want to see a real Independent party that's going to work like Orange & Blue does in chambers - that's not going to cozy up to 'the Machine' through proxies like Eric Conrad, but that's also going to have the sense not to slate turncoat bozos like Eric White turned out being. On the other hand, I want an Indie party that acts like Progress outside of the mundane world of the third floor and has the ability to have a SOCIAL CONSCIENCE - a party that chastizes its members for voting AGAINST migrant worker rights, a party that's in the trenches with student leaders from other universities when it comes to the sweatshop movement, fair trade products on campus, sustainability programs, standing up to Washington and now allowing Universities to churn out cannon fodder for the military (get the recuiters off campus and away from college events --- like they've done in Berkeley!!); I want an Indie party that's going to be out there with the Andrew Meyer's and the families of slain victims of police brutality in Gainesville/Alachua County. People always talk about our carbon print on earth, well I want UF SG's indie party to leave a footprint on the system.

I don't think Dave Schneider is a sell out and I don't think Wooten really does either, but both parties have done great things - in different directions. The ideal party would have O&B's standoffish-partisan qualities legislatively speaking and Progress well-rounded/informed world view and commitment to social causes insofar as off-election/off-season efforts to keep the campaign staff and manpower occupied as opposed to dormant except for essentially four weeks out of the year. The Indie soldiers should be like the men of the U.S. Navy on vessels around the world -- every single day is war, the discipline on a ship is sky-high, the men and women are always ready, it's the being ready part that's the real challenge, war for them (is just icing on the cake).

The System has piss-poor campaign people, most of which are comprised of pledges working against their will for the first phases, followed by a second phase consisting 1st and 2nd year house members house members, followed by a thrid phase consisting of ethnic minorities that have sold out for a few more dollars in the A&S budget, and finished by a fourth phase that includes the top party brass and candidates. Orange & Blue gave that machine a severe fat lip and set of black eyes not too long ago. Reuniting the movement - UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES could be just what the doctor ordered.

I want Justin Wooten at the table. He's a nut - this is true. I'm a nut too - if he's a walnut, I'm a chestnut. But who gives a shit. I want Justin Wooten at the table, I want him to have a say in any talk of a merger. Otherwise, any meeting you have, will have the air of 12/11 -- please don't leave the blue-collar Progress or O&B people out... have the hardliners from both sides at that table Wooten & Yanuck and let them both be content with the outcome...otherwise... if it's just Trimboli & Schneider (for example), both guys represent a huge chunk of the movement and both guys want victory in Spring, but it's repeating the ages old injustice of the moderates shaking while the often exploited and fanatically-loyal hardliners get shafted in the wings.


Let's say Yanuck was a Zionist... let's just say he was, that's fine. Let's say Wooten (like myself or PG) would scream and holler for the '67 borders and for Palestinian rights. Let's say there's merger talks and these are there and fight it out for a while before talking peace between the two parties - SO FUCKIN WHAT?! The indie leaders are so scared to have it out, to fight, to argue, that that very fear is what's going to keep the two sides from reuniting.

There's some issues that need closure. The GMG Emails are bullshit - Progress needs to let go and quit demanding an apology --- was there wrongdoing? sure, SG Happens, at least the lights didn't go out. The 12/11 meeting... O&B needs to admit those were a sham - or stay silent. As far as party names go... have a convention... Progress got more votes, but a NAME shouldn't make or break UNITY. Though I will say.. O&B is a pretty FBK/Greek sounding name, but then again... just like Dems can push for Family Values just like the GOP (Republicans don't OWN family values), so too the Greeks don't own SCHOOL PRIDE, so it's really not fair that the Indies can't be proud Independents and proud Gators, too.

Just some things to think about.

---

ARMANDO RAMON!!!

FYI: the pastey white dude's name is not "Ramon,"
it's Armando's middlename

---

Yanuck Responds; Wooten Stands Firm

Is Alan Yanuck Ditching O&B?

"On O&B turning on me:

I've heard nothing about this, I think its merely a product of our largely college democrat roots coming to head with the fact i'm a staunch republican and took an opposite stand on the resolution.

I'm sure it'll blow over as we get back to Student Government internal work, such as executive appointments, corruption, etcetera.

i totally forgot to address me joining Unite

I've been joking about it, but i thought it was obviously a joke

Sen. Alan Yanuck
Orange & Blue Party

"He literally showed it [messages from Unite's Regalado] to me and talked openly about it in front of Midlebrath, Ossip, Graham, Donte, and I think TJ Boyd.

At a Sushi place after Senate."

Justin Wooten
The Progress Party Hardliner
(Title as of now given him by TheRadikal.com)

---

For yesterday's post I posted a question based on some allegations I'd been hearing. I contacted Sen. Yanuck today and asked if he could give his take on the matter - mainly b/c it's critical to his reputation, as well as his character to be able to defend himself in this forum with every resource available. He not only refuted the allegations, but delievered a very well written rebuttal. Still, we're not really going for the best written answers, as much as we are with the truth.

Sen. Yanuck is a good guy, Wooten is a good guy. I just want to get the low-down with as little fillers and additives as possible - so that I can then relay it to you guys and my beloved alumni so out of the loop they think Library West is still closed.

Here goes...

"One moment, let me get the numbers.Students for Justice in Palestine request $5,795 for their group. Among the activities they wanted to hold were 'Winter end of Semester Social' where essentially, we provide them with 150.00 worth of food for them to serve to their members..

This event would cost a total of 460.00 with publicity. Several events which are happening in the SPRING, when we were giving them a fall budget these events totalled 1,515+755+855+60

As well as an event where we would, full price, send members of SJP to a conference in new hampshire which they could not demonstrate would provide any benefit to the student body as a whole, but merely to the people who went Student Government policy always has, and probably will continue to be, that these kinds of events will not be funded for very good reason, as spending 450$ to send a few students to new hampshire is a very expensive benefit to only a few students when we attempt to provide the greatest possible benefit to everyone on the floor, i made an amendment which would have struck a further 150$ from the budget.


Because they wanted to spend 150$ to put a stage up in Plaza of the Americas on being asked what benefit this would provide, they merely assured me that it would provide benefit. In the end, this amendment was not seconded, and I voted to fund them, despite this minor objection.

I have no idea when I became 'racist against arabs' and find such claims to be completely ridiculous.

We merely told them to ask for funding for their spring events in spring, and that SG should not provide money for socials or for conferences with no return benefit.

To me it seems that this wouldn't have been an issue at all if the group hadn't been inherently political, and i'm not going to overfund any group regardless of its agenda.

The Senate Allocations Committee couldn't have funded even 10 requests of this group's original size.

Its simple, I never do thinks I think are dishonest or wrong and i'm a decent enough debater that I can justify what I do."

- Sen. Alan Yanuck
Orange & Blue Party

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p.s.

I'd like to express my deepest gratitude for SBP Jordan Johnson for never getting back to me on my interview requests. I look forward to the upcoming elections.

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"Where is Armando Grundy in all this?"

Progress & O/B May Merge...

over Wooten's dead body!

In what will surely be a developing story, the Progress Party' workhorse has shared shocking takes with TheRadikal.com. He claims that 'all is lost,' coming to grips with his belief that [Dave] Schneider has 'sold out' and is all but certain to lead the way for a merger.

Wooten believes, as do I, that Progress has gone much further than any student government party has in a long, long while - and - to merge with O&B would be a step back politically. Let me clarify MY point.

I believe now, as always, that O&B are the The Officials; I believe Progress are the The Progs; I believe both are 140% Independent, even if it can be argued only one is GDI. However, I believe only Progress has taken the initiative in taking a student political party to the next level in 1960's style & beyond.

I have a TON of faith in Dave Schneider -- so let's start this month out right and let's address the issue of Dave 'selling out', let's hit on Justin's concerns about Alan Yanuck allegedly, royally screwing Arab/Muslim student groups insofar as allocations and the fiscal budget goes, and let's also talk about what benefits could come from the Officials and the Progs working together again.

Let me also put this out there: I have a TON of faith in Joe Trimboli & Frank Bracco - even if these are not the current leaders (now or ever). I believe O/B does have a lot to offer as well, but I know they won't go the places Progress has outside of SG - I also know (to their credit), they won't warm up to The Machine like Progress has.

Also... address what's been gained by Progress warming up to Unite and more. Before I even dignify the notion of a comeback... let's see if the 'ole comment section can still light up like idk ... 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 :)


Oh wait... and last, but not least... Wooten says he would never break away and form a new party from under Progress... but I've been around the game myself and I know that if a merger did take place -- hardliners opposing it (from both sides) would probably not find much love in the new outfit. So... my question is... if the hardliners are in fact left out in the cold - do they disappear from the scene or WHAT?

When the war was over - they told John Rambo to go back to being an ordinary citizen.. anyone that's seen First Blood knows... that didn't work out according to plan.

Public Records Lawsuit Filed Against UF

For Immediate Release





UF-Student Government sued for Public Records Violations



Summary: A recent UF graduate is suing UF Student Government for failing to make records of meetings public as required by Florida’s Public Record Law. The UF Student Senate oversees a budget of some fourteen million public dollars a year, but Plaintiff Frank Bracco says that his requests for copies of the recordings of Student Senate Meetings have been repeatedly denied or ignored, contrary to Florida Statute 119.07, which allows citizens the right to inspect and copy public records. “The lesson UF Student Government should be teaching is that no public agency is above the law and transparency in public meetings is vital to good government,” says Mr. Bracco. “Instead, they are skirting the law and hiding the ball.”



Full Version:



August 25, 2009 Gainesville, FL – Recent University of Florida graduate Frank Bracco filed a law suit against UF and Student Government for violations of the Public Records Law. Bracco filed the lawsuit today with Florida's Eighth Judicial Circuit.



The lawsuit alleges UF Student Government denied him copies of documents that are part of the public record on three separate record requests. Bracco also claims University failed to properly store public records, resulting in the destruction of records requested on two other occasions.



The right of the public to inspect and copy public records is guaranteed under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, also referred to as the Public Records Law. Documents requested are usually turned over to the public, but Bracco’s lawsuit cites several occasions over the past ten months where he was denied copies. “My experience is not unlike what others have experienced when dealing with the UF, especially Student Government,” said Bracco, “but I want to ensure others have the right to access public documents in order to promote transparency and accountability.”



The records requested all deal with public meetings held by Student Government. Student Government is created by the State Constitution and Statutes and is subject to the Public Records Law. State law allows Student Government to have an operating budget of nearly 14 million dollars, which is collected through Activity and Service fees levied on each student. “The lesson UF Student Government should be teaching is that no public agency is above the law and transparency in public meetings is vital to good government,” says Mr. Bracco. “Instead, they are skirting the law and hiding the ball.”



Current Student Body President Jordan Johnson has pledged to create an open and transparent Student Government, but requests to intervene in Bracco’s requests have been ignored.

Ken Kerns Q&A Part II. of IV.

TheRadikal: In a post you wrote (which I enjoyed) titled "The Absurd Duque-Grapski Fight" you lashed out at Chris Carmody for a response he had in a series of emails. The former UF Student Senate President suggested that Charlie & I resolve our differences by seeing who could withstand being tased longest. You did briefly discuss why you lashed out, but could you further explain your reaction to Carmody's choice of words?

Ken Kerns: There’s not a whole lot to say about that. Carmody tried using a topical news item (the tasering incident) as a suggestion for how to handle the dispute. But I think it is a horribly disrespectful and completely uncalled for way of expressing one’s displeasure with reading a mass email that didn’t concern them. It wasn’t like this was on a message board read by a handful of people where such comments were understood as being normal – this was a mass reply that perhaps dozens of people unwillingly received. As a former Senate President and a member of Florida Blue Key, you would have expected him to respond in, I don’t know, a more professional manner. Certainly he should have done so in a more adult manner.


The Radikal: Let's go back to 2002 Ignite v. Swamp. Now we all know the margin between Nikki Fried (I) & Chris Carmody (S) was razor-thin, but what I for one fail to understand is why Fried (or you [strategically]) chose Voice Sen. Joel Howell for the weaker Veep slot and not the stronger Treasurer role. My reasoning is that one more Greek would further strengthen Fried chances as President & Veep run as one; for the independents the Treasurer post would have been a huge power-play (and to a much lesser extent, it would have marked the 10yr anniversary of Fmr. SBT Marna Weston [also Voice]). Please explain the strategy.


Ken Kerns: Let me correct an underlying assumption here. I was not that much involved in Ignite’s campaign; Jeremy Kaplan was basically the only significant Independent on the Ignite party exec. Kyle Jones was needed, and picked first, to help Nikki nail down the FBK and fraternity vote that had threatened to join Swamp. And as a two-time senator, SigEp president, Budget Chairman, and a co-sponsor of the BOCC compromise, he was far more obviously qualified than Joel was.

Joel was a last-minute choice, and one that was meant to shore up Nikki’s support among blacks, independents, and engineers – just to be blunt. I say last-minute because Chris Carmody was also trying to recruit Joel’s support, and Joel was not clamoring for a spot on either ticket. Nikki realized the potential hole in her support that Carmody was trying to exploit, particularly with independents and engineers, and did the logical thing by filling her ticket with Jeremy’s choice.

Here’s a factor you didn’t consider – Fried/Howell and Carmody/Roselli are a pairing of a non-Greek and a Greek. A fully Greek ticket of Fried/Jones would have tagged her as the “greek” candidate and caused more independents to flock to Carmody. And yes, an independent on the Treasurer slot would be a sign of power (they did this for FSP in 2000), but the independents were divided in 2002 and it was mostly the older independents who were graduating who were with Nikki and Ignite.

They may have had other strategic concerns in mind when they put him on that ticket, but I think it was more a matter of needing to both lock down support and fill the empty VP spot that put him there. But as I said, I didn’t even really commit in anyway to Ignite until Nikki put Joel on her ticket, I hemmed and hawed over the decision to run again for Senate (I ultimately declined), I still felt torn by seeing friends on both side, and so I was not involved in Exec decisions for Ignite.

In fact, they repeatedly expected loyalty from me, when they offered little in return. Joel was one of the few independents from SUN to be vocally supportive of my efforts in Fall 2001, and yet from Jeremy to Craig Jones on down, many folks just expected me to fall in line with Ignite just because Jeremy was there. It still bothers me how some in that party felt I owed them total loyalty when I got very little in return; and that they questioned my loyalty at every turn – for even such horrible crimes as observing Carmody’s campaign kickoff event (even after I let Ignite know before the Alligator did that it was happening at Gator Nights).



The Radikal: Also in relation to the 2002 election, I've cited your blog 'Ken Speaks' with you stating as follows:

"Neither campaign really talked of changing the system, some people saw little difference between the two sides, and a few of us were really torn by the election. So it really came down to who liked and trusted Nikki or Chris and those who didn’t."

Some six years later, do you feel that in supporting Fried over Carmody that you made the right decision by (1) the students, (2) the [Voice] Party, & (3) last, but not least, Ken Kerns.



Ken Kerns: A lot of the people I wanted to see elected in both parties were, in fact, elected. I think Carmody could have done just as well as Fried, but I preferred Joel definitely for VP and Kyle over Jamie Wicker.

Was it the right decision for me? I was slowly coming to a decision to leave Gainesville (if only subconsciously), and so my minimalist involvement in that campaign reflected my eventual decision (I attended some public events for both parties, but volunteered to table for Ignite, and even wore my Voice Party t-shirt on Election Day).

Truth be told, much of the Voice Party disagreed with Joel, Nick Capezza, and myself, and backed Chris Carmody’s Swamp Party. But that was because we never made a collective decision about it, and because Argento was very thorough in recruiting support for Carmody.

Did I make the right choice for the students? I did what I could to encourage bipartisan cooperation by helping to elect a Senate leadership that came from both political parties. And I know the right choice was made for VP and Treasurer. I like Nikki Fried personally, as much as Chris Carmody, and I know them both well enough to say either one would have done the student body well. I think on balance I made the right choice, even if I wasn’t happy about working against many friends like Jess Johnson and James Argento who were working for the other side. But as I said, my involvement in Spring 2002 was more as an avid observer, not as much of an activist, so I can’t claim too much credit for Ignite’s victory – except in helping to put Joel in a position to run for VP.



////////Special Question///////////


TheRadikal: Do you like games, Ken? I love games. 2002 Hypothetical. Tell us what happens if Voice decides to shop between Ignite & Swamp and find no common ground; the Party decides to field Joel Howell for Student Body President, this isn't a bluff, this isn't a ploy to get a pay-off, this is a real campaign.

Questions

1. Does Nick Capezza jump ship? Yes or no, why?

Ken Kerns: Tough call, but likely not. He helped provide the impetus to get Voice going in the first place, so if we managed to make the decision to run Joel on our own, he’d probably be right there making the decision with us.


2. Does James Argento jump ship? Yes or no, why?
Probably yes. He was very supportive of Chris Carmody since before we backed Carmody for Senate President. I believe he signed on very early on for Chris, so he probably would have been committed to him before we switched. But he might be one that we could swing back depending on the rest of the tickets.


Does Jeremy Kaplan jump ship? Yes or no, why?
Jeremy was not a part of Voice, and was with Ignite long before he thought about reaching out to a Voice Party senator on Ignite’s behalf. Plus, he thoroughly supported Nikki as his last best hope before graduating for a Student Body President to be elected that he could accept. He would not jump ship, but he would be the go-between prior to Voice’s decision in this hypothetical.


Does Joe Argento jump ship? Yes or no, why?
Joe would do what he wants, when he wants. Depending on the circumstances, he might follow his brother’s lead.


Does Tim Stevens jump ship? Yes or no, why?
Tim wasn’t a big player in the party, no offense Tim – he primarily represented our contacts within the family housing community. If he were a Senator at the time we launched the Spring campaign, though, I’d suspect he’d stick with us.


Does Ken Kerns jump ship? Yes or no, why?
Like in the real election, I followed Joel. If Joel was running on our ticket in the Spring, I’d be there for him, much as he was there for us when we needed support in the fall.


Presidential Debate Skills
a. Joel v. Chris =


I think they’d be fairly evenly matched in the debate. Not really any way to expand on that, except to say I don’t see either having much of an edge unless one made a gaffe.


b. Joel v. Nikki =


Joel would be the more charismatic, more “authentic” debater, but Nikki would be more wonkish. Very much a replay of Obama/Clinton on Obama’s best nights.




TheRadikal: In your highly speculative, hypothetical, post-six-years-opinion, what effect would a serious Howell presidential bid had the UF African American caucus of 2002?


Ken Kerns: The “caucus” as it existed after 2002 was not yet fully formed by then. In 2001, there was a split in the community (VISA backing Fusion, BSU backing SUN). But had they gone their separate way in 2002, they could have established themselves as more than just a cog in the FBK machine but as an independent political operator – which I’m convinced that, aside from Access in 2004, they have yet to really do. That has it’s pluses and minuses. But recently – I think in one year it got to the point where people complained that the African American candidates were being slated in seats FBK couldn’t win – it shows the downside of threatening to go independent but very following through convincingly. The African American community (and the Engineers) won the election for Ignite, and I would have hoped FBK wouldn’t forget that sort of thing. But I tend to be more optimistic on that score than others.


The Radikal: If Voice had miraculously made it to a run-off with a mainstream party, which do you think the scratched party would have endorsed:


Ken Kerns: Animosity between Nikki and Chris stemmed back all the way to before the Fall 2001 campaign finished. I could see different scenarios based on the various tickets and coalitions that would have formed as a result of this bizarre twist in history. I’d say Swamp is more likely to support us than Ignite mainly because much of Carmody’s support broke away from FBK as a result of them putting Nikki on their ticket instead of Chris – meaning they had already decided to not support Nikki, and just needed someone else to back. Ignite is harder to read, because its resulting coalition is a hodgepodge of Greek and independent support that was often tied to specific colleges (look at Ignite’s support in Law and Engineering, usually independent bastions, compared to LS, another independent bastion).

The likeliest scenario, however, is that the Greek houses would consolidate behind whichever party survived into the runoff, and the Independents would join Voice – that is, unless deals were made to change that calculus.

Very difficult question, I’d say. Because it’s far more likely for a third-party Voice to get maybe 20% at most, and be forced to choose between Ignite and Swamp.

But what makes this difficult even assuming the miracle of making it to a runoff is trying to figure out how the Ignite and Swamp party coalitions would look alike in the event Voice was a third option with strong Engineering support.

Ken Kerns Q&A Part I. of IV.

TheRadikal: I hope you find yourself well, I'm enjoying what's left of my vacation. I want you to know that I want this interview to happen, but the blog is going through a phase where I'm trying to draw out some non-SG players to diversify. There's going to be another Q&A covering sit-ins at Penn State which will be showcased for May Day/Labor Day.

Ken Kerns: Thanks, I’m doing well. And I can understand the need to diversify. I myself am trying to find a way to have my blog be more than just what a diarist on Daily Kos could do, especially since I am going to eventually stop the SG blogging.


TheRadikal: Ken, let's go back to the highly contested Adler/Sanchez race. In an excerpt taken from Nick Cappezza's Radikal interview, he states:

"From my perspective, which was on the front lines, absolutely. Votes were not counted that should've been counted and other shenanigans went on."

In your opinion, were there votes that were not counted? If so, what basis would you have to make such a call? Also, could you expound on what "other shenanigans went on?"

Ken Kerns: If you look at the numbers, Adler won by 17 votes, his Treasurer candidate by about 400, and the Senate candidates won by something equivalent to about 53%-47% in the popular vote. Adler clearly was not as popular as his ticket. Do I think some votes didn’t counted, or that they “found” an extra ballot box somewhere to put him over the top? I can’t lie and say I wouldn’t believe it, but I could also believe that Fusion was just popular enough overall to overcome the ticket splitting. But really, Adler won 50.10% of the vote. It wouldn’t take much for that lead to change – that election was basically a tie.

Yes, there are always “shenanigans” at election season. Some people call it “B-team stunts”, like ripping up yard signs, or following people with cameras to catch election violations or just to throw them off their game. And at times, we felt the UF administration played favorites – but that wasn’t ever proven. 2001 wasn’t any different than most election years, however.



TheRadikal:What can you tell us about the Vision Party campaign and working with Gary Slossberg? In what ways did the Voice Party (your incarnation) compare and/or differ from Vision?


Ken Kerns: Vision ran for an extraordinarily long time, from Spring 1997 to Spring 2000. I was only around for its final two elections, when it failed to win any seats. And when I was there, I could see why – very little effort was made to build and sustain coalitions in the fall and spring, and especially at recruiting new activists. In Spring 2000, we were heavily reliant on the qualifications and diversity that our Treasurer candidate brought to the table as BOCC Treasurer and the first openly gay candidate for campus-wide office.

Gary Slossberg was a great person to work with – funny, friendly, and passionate about his beliefs. As the Vision presidential candidate in 1999, for example, he spearheaded an effort to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. Of all the political leaders I worked with at UF, he remains my favorite – I can’t quite explain why, but I think it has something to do with the fact that it took a lot to get him mad at you.

Vision was always like that, too – while not a “College Democrats” party, Vision was very much a socially liberal one that was skeptical of FBK and the greek system.

Voice 2001 was a bit different. Our platform was within the Vision tradition of “integrity, democracy, diversity” but our emphasis was on the plight of student organizations, and improving how SG worked. Our biggest fight was over giving more money to student groups – an amendment to the A&S Fee budget that Fusion bitterly opposed in the election but eventually sponsored when it came time to fund the organizational budget. We did not really campaign on social issues as much, although we favored more emphasis on a cleaner environment. With folks like Adam Guilette, a founder of the Liberty Project, on our side, our campaign was more about making SG more responsive, more decentralized.

It’s within the GDI tradition that Vision had cemented, but we had our own policy accents that made it a distinct force.


TheRadikal: Very little was learned in regards to your feud w/ James Argento in his interview back in 2006. In fact James only stated the following:

"At one point in November 2001, we got into a dispute at a BOCC meeting. When I got home, I wrote Ken an angry email. Ken responded. I then responded in kind."

What was your take on the matter? Were there other underlying issues at hand during the feud?

Ken Kerns: James may remember better than I do what our feud back then was specifically about. I recall that we clashed several times largely because our personalities were so different. James, for example, can be more open about what he thinks and can get quite excited about expressing them. I, on the other hand, tend to lose patience for misplaced over-zealousness.

But “feud” is too strong a word here. James and I exchanged a few emails, and that was it. We were friends before and after that incident. We even worked together to help guide John Hooker in his bid for Senate President Pro Tempore in Spring 2002. And we talk periodically on the phone even now.

But James and I emailed each other a lot during that period – we even had an exchange over whether Chris Carmody’s early strategy for the Spring 2002 election was smart or not. James signed onto Carmody’s team early on; I never could quite make it, even though more of my friends and acquaintances in my final year at UF were on his side.


TheRadikal: As treasurer of the BOCC, how would you characterize the SG/BOCC showdown of your day?

"For years BOCC was not the most strict organization in terms of watching its money."

- James Argento
(2006, TR Interview)

As treasurer of the BOCC at the time, this would speak directly to you and your predecessors. Were you offended? Did you agree? How did the organization initially respond?

Ken Kerns: Actually, I think James and I both said the very same thing during our work on the BOCC budget in 2002 – that the past way BOCC did budgets was, well, I’d call it “amateur”. Book-keeping was hard from year to year, especially with frequent shifts in office space and location. I think the system in place now, an outgrowth of a compromise Kyle Jones and I reached on behalf of the Ad-Hoc Committee that met in Summer 2001, the current system has been good for BOCC – as it gives it more consistency in how budgets are written, and allows for easy access to funding histories.

However, the Bill 1066 in Fall 2000 was totally the wrong approach, and I remain proud of my involvement in the filibuster against that legislation. The original bill was formed on the Friday before Labor Day, without informing much less consulting the largest umbrella organization on campus that its funding would no longer be guaranteed and that they would no longer be a part of the A&S Fee Budget but instead forced to compete with everyone else in the Spring student organizational budgets.

Recall that this was after the college councils took a major political risk in getting unofficially involved in the Spring 2000 election by backing the Florida Students Party, which was ultimately unsuccessful. The BOCC believed this to be a politically-motivated attack on their organization, and that they had better fight it or face being potentially zero-funded.

Of course, those concerns were exaggerated by the drama of the moment, and the fact that the Student Body Treasurer (Ana Maria Garcia) and the Budget Chairman (Cary High) were poor salesmen from a public relations point of view. Rather than pointing out that determining a bottom line for BOCC nearly a year before the budget year began could lead to problems the financial professions were concerned about, Garcia and High spent most of the debate complaining about wanting more oversight over how that money is spent (never mind that the Garcia signs off on every single funding request made by every organization throughout the year, and that no one really holds student groups to putting on the events that the budget is justified for).

And so we fought them in Fall 2000 to the best showing of any non-FBK party in a fall election ever. And we fought them down to 17 votes in the spring election, the best in 9 years. And finally, they relented to creating an ad-hoc committee and to fashioning a compromise.

This was how the “Academic Organizational Budget” was created, along with reinstituting the BOCC Finance Committee that would do most of the hard work of crafting an overall budget and examining each and every program being put on. This also pushed all BOCC subsidiaries into using the budget disk format now used by all student groups.

Prior to all of this, record keeping was inconsistent, the budgeting process largely arbitrary (based on the size of the college council and the groups it represents), and the budget number BOCC got from SG was created almost a year before it would be in effect (which meant it would frequently require recissions near the end of the year to move funding around to the councils who needed it from the councils who didn’t).

I’m not saying the whole episode was necessary, or that we couldn’t find ways to make the old BOCC system work. But given that it happened, I think it’s been a net plus for the umbrella organization and the college council system in general.

---

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Democracy for Honduras: Bring Back Zelaya!

The Honduran Coup: A Beacon for Reaction?
by David Schneider

This is a fantastic article penned by the Progress Party leader and student senator. I'd also like to invite you to check out the page - as we'll be updating more news & commentaries dealing with Latin America (from an Allendist perspective).

SalvadorAllende.org

Coup in Honduras

This coup has been condemned by the USA, the Organization of American States, and largely by members of the European Union.

Still... a once prominent UF student leader wrote this on her status:
"is so proud of Honduras right now! :-D Yay!" Pretty scary, huh?

Who is the unnamed fmr. Student leader? Not saying.