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Subject: My apology apology: Honesty at stake in Navarro College uproar


Author:
Joey
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Date Posted: 23:35:16 04/19/05 Tue

My apology apology
Joey Dauben
North Texas Indy Media

WAXAHACHIE -- A situation with Navarro College's Student Government Association was nothing compared to other controversial events involving other government officials, but a principle can be learned regardless.

That principle is honesty.

The situation involved a measley teacher appreciation award.

The gist: Students submitted essays and applications for Navarro's Teacher Appreciation Award -- to be handed out later this month.

The voting came down to two exceptional teachers: Paul Phillips (my govt teacher) & Pamela Grant (nicest teacher at the school).

The problem lies in a measure enacted by the Student Government Association (SGA) hiearchy -- i.e., the elected officers.

Reportedly to have followed the advice of advisor Nicole Mansell, the SGA made a ruling that barred officers from submitting a ballot, or essay, before the winning teacher was announced.

Make sense, doesn't it? You don't want the guys who judge the competition to also vote -- makes for a good conflict-of-interest if done that way.

Well, here's the beef: our president-elect, later to have admitted he lied about taking advice from our advisor to submit the essay, submitted the essay our SGA officers voted on -- the one that won.

He admitted that everything was made up that was told to SGA members at a retreat in Corpus Christi.

The president-elect, knowing what he did was wrong (and later admitting this, because the guy is seriously good-hearted), did not show up for school the day of the vote.

He later apologized in a closed-door meeting Monday.

We all make mistakes, and for full disclosure purposes, I make them all the time. I am not immune to anything (but this isn't about me, now is it?)

My conscience is continually clear because I laid everything out on the table beforehand in everything (politics, spirituality, etc.) I do.

(some can't believe this conscience thing exists in that form)

So, after this was brought out into the open --- wait, no, before our SGA meeting Monday, hell broke loose because of two things:

-- 1) People who weren't the 3 to 5 SGA officials found out
-- 2) I wrote about it on my Xanga blog Monday morning -- before our mtg

So, after this was brought out into the open -- well, actually during our closed-door after-SGA meeting -- screams, yells, shouts and cries were heard from others outside the classroom the meeting takes place in.

The advisor, Mansell, calls all the allegations regarding her instructing the president-elect to actually submit the essay "bullshit."

She said she volunteers for SGA events, she's not getting paid.

She said she came across the winning essay hesitant, feeling a bit concerned that it "could have been Jack's" handwriting, but wasn't sure.

A discussion took place, the president-elect said, that they wanted Grant to win -- who wouldn't, she's the nicest teacher at that school by far.

Our other advisor said she even asked if an officer had submitted one -- and there was silence.

Since the essays were submitted anonymously, nothing could be proved.

Unless the advisor was caught lying about telling the president-elect to submit the essay.

Benefit of the doubt: other SGA members believe her.

I'm the lone holdout because the president-elect had two very different stories: one on the weekend and the other in the meeting. Two completely different stories and angles were given.

(Jack, I don't believe one second that you lied about it all -- sorry, but I don't)

Our president-elect turned a new leaf when the heat began to boil.

So, naturally, the questions then asked were: what's my interest in this? Where do I come into play? "What's in it for me?" What do I get out of this? What do I have against our advisor?

First off, let's put it straight: I will not apologize.

Ever.

An exception to this would be if I am ever found to be at fault, have made a mistake, or have "jumped the gun" on something.

But from now on, no apology will be given for seeking the Truth and pursuing all avenues to obtain it.

The fact that "in politics, things are covered up all the time" does not sway me.

I will seek the truth.

In everything.

All the time.

Everywhere.

And I will expose it.

In everything.

All the time.

Everywhere.

I was told by officers, members and advisors that I was making a big issue out of nothing.

I was told by officers, members and advisors I should "get used" to having things covered up.

IN THE MEETING!

I shouldn't "bite the hand that feeds" me, I was told.

I shouldn't be dividing and smashing apart our SGA. We should have unity. We should do all the positive stuff and not touch on the controversial.

THAT ISN'T THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

Read my Xanga header: Truth is so obscure in these times in which we live, and falsehood is so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.

I am sick and tired of the status quo.

I am sick and digusted that 3 to 5 people of our school's SGA would get mad because someone exposed and questioned their attempted cover-up, regardless if it was some stupid teacher appreciation award or not.

In any other situation, institution, or event, the leadership would have resigned.

If you know of a lie, and you do or say nothing of a lie, then you become part of the lie.

My truth-seeking philosophy doesn't stop just because I attend school.

As long as I attend school there, or am involved with the SGA, or heck, as long as Navarro College remains in Ellis County, my principles will apply to every aspect: publicly exerted funds are used to pay for the building, the furniture, the equipment, the electric bills, the salaries of the employees and the tuition of students.

And by God, as a taxpayer advocate, and a CHRISTIAN first and foremost, I will stand by the Truth and continue to seek it.

I don't care if it's student council or the Boy Scouts, I am sick and tired of hearing that just because it's politics and that it's a normal, everyday thing, that I should go along with it, not question it, and just be content with it.

It is wrong.

It is not right, it is wrong.

There is a right.

And there is a wrong.

I will seek the Truth. In everything. Everywhere.

And I won't apologize for any of it.

And if it happens ever again, you better believe it will get spread even more than it is now.

--Joey Dauben is a former Midlothian school board candidate currently attending school at Navarro College-Waxahachie, where he is majoring in political science-journalism. Currently a candidate for Ovilla City Council, Dauben spent three years as an investigative reporter for The Ellis County Press.--

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