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In voting to pass a resolution against a United States-led war on Iraq, the Undergraduate Students Association Council made an admirable decision. Well, half of it did.

Five of the eleven members present at last week’s USAC meeting voted to pass the resolution. Dahle does not vote outside of situations where there is a tie. The other five abstained, some saying they believed USAC taking positions on outside political issues would unavoidably alienate some of the campus and so should not be done.

But USAC is a government entity – its job is to reflect the opinions of its populace and lead as such with its policies. USAC members are elected every spring partially on their own political stances. It would be counterproductive for council members to abstain from advocating once in office.

Regardless of whether its opinion will have any real implications (this one certainly will not), USAC needs to make its views heard. Its function is largely symbolic – it is not granted any real authority over even university affairs. The only power USAC has lies in its ability to campaign on behalf of students on issues confronting this campus and distribute funding.

President Bush may not be listening to USAC’s resolution, but students here are. If USAC neglects to lead this audience, it forfeits most of its influence.