Recently, the Princeton Review described UD as "academically challenging yet unpretentious, a campus where porches symbolize 'community.'"

Perhaps it is because I agree with the Princeton Review's characterization of UD and its use of the word "unpretentious" that I was surprised to read "honk if you want to be us" on a bed sheet hanging from SGA President Jim Saywell's house on Evanston during New Student Orientation.

In politics there is a timeless adage that states perception is reality. It is clear that SGA has a credibility problem, not only amongst students and peers, but with faculty, staff and administrators at all levels.

SGA is viewed by many (perhaps rightfully so) as a clique, an exclusive organization that is above its own rules or the rules of the university. Mr. Saywell's sheet is a classic example of why this perception perpetuates.

However, Mr. Saywell's act affects more than his own credibility. His actions directly reflect SGA and in turn, every undergraduate student at UD.

Despite what you may think, SGA is not autonomous. SGA works closely with administrators to improve the quality of life for the undergraduate population. Therefore, if administrators cannot trust Mr. Saywell (or SGA) to behave appropriately and act wisely, how will they be able to trust SGA on issues of greater consequence and importance - issues like fiscal transparency (ex. SGA's budget is almost $200,000), the renovation of Stuart Field, digital signage or increased independence for student organizations?

Therefore, I propose a challenge to students and administrators at UD - hold student leaders and student organizations accountable.

Administrators, if a student organization does something different than their stated mission, call them out.

Students, when your president acts inappropriately or unethically, call him out.

We, as students, cannot be trusted with more autonomy until we prove that we can hold our peers accountable. Until there is accountability from administrators and peers, we will continue to lose credibility.

And so, like the countless cars that drove by 3 Evanston during move-in, I choose not to honk but to continue driving by.