It seems the Student Association executive and legislative branches are finally working together. However, their new partnership could endanger the credibility of the entire SA.

In response to threats of impeachment for an incomplete expenditure approval form earlier this week, SA President Phil Robinson mentioned he also found improper senator EAFs. Mysteriously, all talk of impeachment ceased when a particular EAF surfaced, documenting money spent by Sen. J.P. Blackford (G-SEAS) for “soda and ice” from Riverside Liquors last spring. Finance Committee Chair Dan Moss (U-SBPM) failed to show up for Wednesday’s committee meeting to discuss impeaching Robinson. Instead, senior senators and executives met behind closed doors for at least two hours supposedly discussing a Robinson meeting with Vice President Louis Katz.

Robinson and senators have publicly forged a “gentlemen’s agreement” to move past the politics and get on with issues that affect students. While less politicking and more action should always be encouraged, there is a distinct difference between moving on and sweeping improprieties under the rug.

Is it true that Robinson and the Senate have come to embrace each other and move forward with a united front to help students? Or is it more likely that senior SA members desire to gloss over what could be serious misuse of student funds? The latter is more likely, as at least one SA source has said these purchases involved alcohol for a party.

There are legitimate questions regarding an EAF attained by The Hatchet that shows $136 spent at Riverside Liquors by 9-year Sen. Blackford for a “Student Association Executive/Senate mixer” on April 30. The EAF also shows spending of more than $50 on drinks including Kool-Aid, orange juice and cranberry cocktail at other stores for the same party. The Riverside purchases conveniently were not detailed, but store employees say the only non-alcoholic product that costs anywhere near that much at Riverside would be a root beer keg, which costs $70.

If the money really was spent on soda, there would have to be at least 200 cans of soda at a party that the form lists had 40 attendees. That’s a lot of soda, especially for a party where so much orange and cranberry juice were also apparently served.

This is a misuse of student funds. The $136 spent at Riverside was probably not on “soda and ice” as purported on the EAF. SA members must start to come clean about their expenditures to those who keep their pockets full – the student body.

Students deserve and should demand to know what their representatives are spending their money on. A “gentlemen’s agreement” between Robinson and SA senators to move past these issues has effectively silenced most of the SA leaders in response to alleged impropriety – they are not answering questions and concerns of The Hatchet and, therefore, their constituents.

Numerous phone calls and e-mails to SA members involved in this expenditure went unanswered Wednesday, as Robinson refused comment on the matter. His newfound zeal to work together with the Senate comes as a surprise after he felt the need to take the legislators to student court over a veto squabble two weeks ago.

If this was just a soda and juice party, why have no senators attempted to set the record straight? Senators need to come forward with the truth – what happened at this party and what was purchased at Riverside Liquors with $136 of student money.

Furthermore, back-room deal-making is not in the students’ best interest. Something has gone awry in the SA, but Senate and executive secrecy is disabling the students from finding out what really happened.