Juliana Marcello/Fourth Estate
Amid the executive orders implemented by the Trump Administration, the Student Government is taking a stand through the Mason Unite Coalition.
BY JULIANA MARCELLO, STAFF WRITER
On April 2, Student Government hosted a teach-in and discussion event regarding the effects of the recent executive orders by President Trump will have at Mason.
Maria Cuesta, Mason’s student-body president, introduced the organization to the event’s participants. Cuesta explained during her introduction that President Washington’s administration is responsible for implementing and enforcing the executive orders.
Cuesta urged participants to engage in conversation with the administrators, “We advise you to challenge this. When you are talking to them, ask questions, make sure you know all of the information possible to you, and make sure that when you engage with them you share different perspectives and also listen to them.”
Cuesta told event attendees to recognize that the administrators are mandated to implement and enforce the executive orders, including orders from the Board of Visitors (BOV), and are at risk of losing their jobs if they (administration) do not follow the mandate.
“We are starting a coalition called Mason Unite where we have a series of events where you can engage and be an activist for yourself and your community,” Cuesta said while introducing the coalition. “This is the start… getting to know what is happening, and getting all of the information so that you can act on it.”
Cuesta encouraged the Mason community to not only attend, but to engage in any form. Cuesta said, “We really ask you to engage with this, if you can’t come we have a flyer up on our student government Instagram, you can share, make sure students are aware of this if they want to pursue this opportunity.” Cuesta promoted the Student Government’s Instagram for latest event updates with Mason Unite.
“Keep showing up,” Cuesta said, “keep engaging in these conversations and clicking and sharing this information.” Multiple members of the Student Government then continued this sentiment, encouraging the Mason community to show up, follow online, as well as giving some tips for the rally.
The student rally happened this past Friday at the Department of Education building in Washington, D.C. The “Hands Off Our Schools” rally included the Mason Student Government as well as student organizations from neighboring universities. The rally included speakers such as former U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman (NY-16).
“The more people that show up, the more change that we are able to make. There’s power in numbers” Cuesta said at the discussion event.
Future events will be posted on the Student Government’s Instagram.
