At last Wednesday's swearing in of Associated Students legislators, nine of the 22 members didn't take the newly rewritten oath of office because they wanted to be sworn in separately from the Student Struggle party.
The nine were from the Unified Student Movement, a slate sponsored by the Progressive Coalition. According to a statement written by Franz Gwiazdon Julio, spokesperson for PC, USM winners wished to be inaugurated separately because "They wished to make a clear distinction between themselves -- all rightfully elected -- and the Superior Court of the State of California-appointed administration of interim President Kenyan McCarthy. Interim because the suit has not been settled, nor has it gone to court."
A San Francisco Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction against the AS May 1 that allowed Struggle to take office until the suit is settled or the court renders a decision.
Julio said USM representatives would take the oath of office at tomorrow's legislature meeting.
According to McCarthy, all AS officers must be sworn in before assuming their duties.
"They can take their oath whenever, but they can't vote or receive their grants-in-aid until they do (take the oath)," he said.
McCarthy said he was told Kevin Bowman, associate dean of students, would swear in the remaining legislators.
The oath Bowman will be reading was rewritten by SF State President Robert Corrigan before he swore in McCarthy and Struggle Vice President Augustine Nevarez earlier this month.
The original four-line oath had the taker swear only to uphold the AS constitution. The new version specifically has the taker promise to, "serve all students, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation or political views..."
By press time Monday afternoon, Corrigan hadn't responded to questions about why he altered the oath.
However, in a statement released by Corrigan on May 4, he wrote that he supported the court's decision to seat Struggle and also said that he believed Struggle was determined to restore student's respect for student government.
Corrigan wrote that Struggle "repudiates the language of violence and of prejudice that tainted this election from some quarters."
Julio said, "It's unfortunate the administration has to choose sides. If a group of students had a documented disciplinary history, I'd understand. I don't think he can back up his words."