My fellow students,
Last week the charges against me were dropped by the SG Senate. While I have never doubted that my innocence would be declared, I was worried throughout the trial that my role as SG comptroller would be taken away, something I never wanted to happen. Sadly, after a weekend of reflection, I have come to realize it is too late. I am now faced with the facts that I cannot continue in my position the way I hoped to when I took the position. It is with great regret that I must resign my post as SG comptroller, and write this letter with the intention of explaining the facts of the past few weeks that led me to my decision.
The trial revealed much more than just my innocence to this campus. The facts here are saddening but the support and information from fellow students throughout the trial gave me the hope I needed to keep fighting for my job last week. That same help from fellow students highlighted a more depressing reality though, that certain members of the Student Government were on a witch hunt against me. The unfortunate truths here are why I believe that there is no way I can perform my duties any longer in this poisonous environment.
When I look back on my time in this position I know that if I made errors as comptroller and had been made aware of them then I assure you I would have corrected those faults going forward into the year. If I have one regret as I walk away from this position, it is that I leave the AUTO program unmanned without a commissioner or a single certified executive to run the program. I hope my replacement works to fill these voids as soon as possible as it is a vital part of our student life.
I'd like to thank the SG Senate who had to deal with the petty grievances of a few leaders night after night ... after night last week. I wish instead we all had been working cohesively to further the causes of our student body. I hope that going forward some of my fellow SG executives take on that challenge once again and do the jobs they were elected to from here on out.
I cannot say yet if I will return to Student Government in my two years left here at
American. I believe that the SG is a great organization but certain members of it either need to change their ways or leave the organization. If those people remain in office, I, now as a constituent, will definitely think lower of the SG.
I believe in this Student Government. I believe that all of its leaders have much better things to do with their time as representatives of our amazing student body than get in the middle of some Executive Board members' inability to communicate their issues to one another. I know that President MacCracken will work with his other executives to fix this issue going forward. I can just hope that they follow his focused and strong leadership.
It is an honor to hold a position in the Student Government and I valued my time as a leader in the body. But it is that same honor that I take from this job that says I must resign at 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2009, so as to better my peers all across our campus.
Sincerely, Matthew Edward Handverger
