ASUI opposes resolution to congratulate Trump

At the Feb. 4 ASUI meeting, a resolution to praise the Trump administration was proposed. Written by a student and sponsored by Senator Izaak Krohn, the resolution “offers congratulations [to President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance] on their inauguration and expresses hope for the term… including effective leadership and progress for all citizens.”  

As with all new Senate resolutions, this resolution will be put to a vote by the senators on the floor at next week’s meeting. However, Pro Tempore Anya Zuercher expressed discontent at the proposal of the resolution. 

“Donald Trump has inflicted offenses on marginalized communities, human rights, democratic institutions… and [the inauguration] is not something that I can congratulate,” Zuercher said. 

She continued, “While civic engagement is essential, it is equally important that leadership should be measured not just by power but by action. The policies put in place through Trump’s presidency… have systematically targeted and harmed populations, and it would be irresponsible for this student body to offer an endorsement without considering the broader impact on human rights and democracy itself within the university.” 

Zuercher also discussed how Trump’s attempt at disbanding the Department of Education, “would have serious consequences for students across the country.” 

“This proposal threatens federal financial aid programs, which I am part of, student loan protections, which I also am a recipient of, and funding for public schools and universities, which UI utilizes,” said Zuercher.  

Senator Julissa McDowell criticized the resolution as well, saying, “It is crucial to consider the implications of passing [this resolution] that may not reflect the true intentions of the student body… Furthermore, many of us do not align with the policies and principles that Trump advocated for within his campaign.” 

McDowell proposed drafting a resolution expressing gratitude for former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ time in office in order to truly reflect the opinions of all students. 

Senator Lance Butikofer opposed Krohn’s Senate resolution to congratulate Trump on the grounds of it lacking professionality, feeling underdeveloped and for the resolution’s content itself. 

“[The resolution] attempts to celebrate the peaceful transfer of power yet fails to acknowledge the unprecedented attack on democracy facilitated by Trump at the end of his first term,” Butikofer said. “To recognize the transfer of power at this time without acknowledging his past assaults on American democracy is to distort history and ignore the very real threat he has imposed.” 

He continued, “Later in the resolution, [the author] says they hope for the ‘progress of all citizens.’ Trump has never been for ‘all citizens.’ In these past couple of weeks alone, we’ve seen federal programs shut down, removal of the Spanish version of our government’s website, we’ve legally defined two genders and erased the existence of intersex and gender non-conforming people. He’s dismantled federal research that includes the words ‘racially,’ ‘gendered,’ ‘disability,’ ‘minority’ and ‘women.’ These actions have perpetuated long-standing systems of oppression and reinforced patriarchal power structures.” 

Butikofer authored another resolution, with Zuercher as sponsor, in opposition to Idaho’s House Joint Memorial 1, which aims to challenge the legality of same sex marriage on a national level. Zuercher claims that this memorial will “send a dangerous message that some people deserve less rights than others.” 

“This isn’t just a policy debate,” Zuercher said. “It’s about real people. No one’s rights should be up for debate.” 

Rebekah Weaver can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu.