Daily Egyptian Politics Editor

Evergreen Terrace Senator Chet Lunsford, a self-proclaimed gadfly in the Undergraduate Student Government Senate, surprised his peers with an abrupt resignation Wednesday night, following a vendetta-style defeat of several pieces of his legislation.

After the senate followed the lead of College of Education Senator Josh Spencer and removed most of the legislation from the agenda, the sole-surviving fee increase proposal Lunsford had written was untabled only to be removed from the agenda.

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Lunsford resigned and walked out, leaving a temporarily silent senate with puzzled looks on its members faces.

Lunsford’s legislation included calling on USG to formalize its stance on both fee increases in general and an increase in the student athletic fee. Though he opposed the athletic fee increase, Lunsford said he wrote the bill so the senate formally could decide how it felt about the increase. The senate tacitly endorsed the increase after it defeated a Lunsford-written resolution opposing the increase in February.

Lunsford said his reason for leaving was a matter of being thwarted by opponents loyal to USG President Dave Vingren who targeted his legislation for defeat without seriously considering it. These same opponents are quick to pass legislation favored by Vingren without discussing it or considering alternatives, he said.

President Vingren said our financial aid, tuition and fees commission need not advise the senate, he said. Parading pachyderms in front of the senate is the substitute, and I think that’s wrong.

When I try to correct it, they meet with parliamentary bullshit.

Lunsford said he will continue to work for student issues, but that his time is better spent outside of the procedural constraints of the senate.

Vingren said he viewed Lunsford’s leaving with some skepticism.

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It’s too bad he had to quit, Vingren said. He’s citing politics as a reason, but if he shows up near any campaign this spring, we can say he has lied to USG.

During his time as an outspoken senator, Lunsford said he has developed some insight as to problems facing USG.

I think the nature of the Finance Committee was a problem and will continue to be a problem, he said. Also, the senate has not effectively dealt with the issue of shared governance. We haven’t been properly involved with any major issue on this campus.

Lunsford said the senate last year was a better forum for debate than the current one.

We had a lot of discussion, lots of really good argumentation, he said. There was no strong division within the senate. We always had good healthy debate, but I don’t see that in this year’s senate.

Lunsford said he thinks an open mind is the key to properly discussing an issue.

I don’t think you should start with your mind made up. It’s not a good way to operate.

Though his tactics of closely examining, dissecting and discussing bills often elicited groans from the senate, some members of USG spoke highly of Lunsford after his resignation.

Kristie Ayres, executive assistant to the president, said they were losing a good senator.

Megan Moore, USG vice president, said she did not want to see Lunsford leave his position.

I’m very sorry to see Sen. Lunsford resign, she said. He always represented the views of his constituents well. They will be losing a strong voice.

Though he has left the senate, Lunsford said his plans to work for students will take up much of his time.

Being active is in my blood, he said. I have got to be involved with what’s going on around campus.