The diversity seats are currently available only to students affiliated with specific cultural organizations. Only members who belong to these organizations can vote. However, the interests supported by these diversity representatives should already be accounted for by the regularly elected senators. It is, after all, every senator's responsibility to represent all students, not only those of a certain background. To distinguish themselves so arbitrarily-on a racial basis-from the rest of the students renders the minority groups guilty of the false perception that every person in a specific minority thinks the same way.
Furthermore, diversity seats would be held by members of cultural clubs, not necessarily by members of minority groups, according to one proposal. It is inappropriate to equate a culture with a club that represents it. The cultural clubs on campus were created as a means to promote diversity and awareness, not to lobby for political strength.
Minority students who feel strongly about specific issues would be better off approaching their representatives with thoughts and suggestions. By strong-arming the constitutional committee into accepting their suggestion, campus minorities have already demonstrated a certain power and an ability to represent their interests.
It is also possible that the number of diversity seats may be increased to represent more special interest groups such as FACE and handicapped students, instigating a kind of "slippery slope." How does one define what exactly constitutes a "cultural group" and who is deserving of additional representation? Once more groups obtain such seats, the line cannot be so easily drawn, necessitating touchy decisions that few will be willing to make.