UT Student Government Slowly Implodes
UT-Austin Student Government is crumbling. At the beginning of the fall 2021 semester, there were seven executive board members. Only three remain, and each of them faces possible impeachment at the start of next semester.
From sexual assault allegations to a lack of transparency and accountability, the SG Executive Board the president, vice president, and five appointed directors has come under repeated attack. The unrest started when senior Antony Rodriguez (not a member of UT student government) posted SG's budget on social media in October and asked for transparency in how it spends money.
One of the revelations: Executive board members reserve $30,000 for their own tuition stipends, while only allocating about $16,000 for scholarships. Outrage spiraled from there. At the SG meeting the following Tuesday, Rodriguez said some members attacked his character and were interrogating him rather than taking responsibility: "During that meeting, people saw how toxic the environment is."
Following the meeting, nearly 200 students joined a Twitter Space to discuss the situation. During that session and future Spaces many of which lasted for hours more issues with executive board members came to light. Students began questioning SG's involvement with the Tejas Club spirit organization, which has come under scrutiny and drawn protests after some members were accused of sexual assault and the organization apparently attempted a cover-up.
Read more: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2021-12-24/ut-student-government-slowly-implodes/