Editorial - Gutierrez must admit to mistakes

As you've no doubt heard, ASCC President Jessica Gutierrez is currently facing impeachment. However, if she is voted out by the senate, it wouldn't be the first time a president of the ASCC has been removed from office. In face, the ASCC has been riddled with removals, resignations, and disqualifications over the last few years.

Multiple former presidents have had issues with taking enough units to qualify for a position on the ASCC. Perhaps it is a possibility that the position of president is too much work to handle in addition to classes.

As far as we know, Gutierrez is still meeting all requirements for her position, including taking the minimum number units to be on the ASCC. In addition, she has had to deal with the responsibilities of three unfilled ASCC executive positions, which fall to her according to the ASCC bylaws. This includes the posting of agendas, which is normally performed by the director of communication.

We can imagine that it may be difficult for Gutierrez to handle all of this and classes. It may explain her lateness in posting agendas. However, it does not make her actions immaterial.

We did not ever believe that Gutierrez was trying to hold secret ASCC meetings, or keep information of the meetings from the public. However, simply not intending to hold secret meetings doesn't mean that the Brown Act has been followed. The Brown Act has specific regulations for meetings that must be followed. Not following them is a violation of the Brown Act.

While it may not say in the ASCC constitution or bylaws that they are required to follow the Brown Act, the ASCC does fall under its requirements, and needs to adhere to its rules.

The editors of the Spectator do not believe it is necessary that Gutierrez be removed from office, if she is willing to admit that her actions caused the ASCC to be in violation of the Brown Act, and promises to follow the recommendations of the ASCC senate in this matter.