Tensions in CUSG rise over sustainability chair candidate of executive branch

By:  Suvu Singh and Maryjane Glynn

On Thursday, CU Student Government (CUSG) Legislative Council removed the appointment of executive branch’s sustainability chair candidate Emma Holt.

This comes after the Legislative Council brought forth concerns with Holt’s candidacy after her interview in Council’s appointments’ committee. 

In her application, Holt allegedly referred to developing nations as “third world” while speaking about her study abroad trip to India. In her interview with The Bold, Holt claims that when she referred to India as “third world”, the context was, “wealthy nations need to take responsibility for the disproportionate effects of climate change that they have on poor nations.” It “wasn’t stated in a derogatory way,” she added. 

In addition, Holt claims that the committee assumed that her study abroad trip to India was a mission trip. 

“It was not a mission trip. It was not a service trip. It was fully a backpacking study abroad program. There were no financial ulterior motives, no political motives,” Holt said. 

During the appointments’ committee interview, Holt allegedly said that Indigenous people had overrun “this land.” 

“What I meant to say was that Indigenous people own this land, had lived on this land, and that they had been overrun by the colonizing people who came here,” according to Holt.

Holt spoke during the public open hearing section during the Legislative Council meeting where she pleaded to council to move forward with her ratification discussion. 

While Holt’s ratification was originally in the agenda for the meeting, Legislative council members, barring one representative-at-large, voted to remove her ratification indefinitely after her application and offer were rescinded by the tri-executives. 

Holt claims that she believes this decision, “sets the precedent that anyone who wants to work for CUSG cannot make mistakes, cannot learn, cannot grow, cannot explain themselves, cannot take accountability, [and] cannot have the right to defend themselves, or else their application will get rescinded, and they won’t get a chance.”

“It perpetuates cancel culture,” Holt further added. 

According to a statement from the Legislative Council to The Bold, the decision to remove her ratification from the agenda was made in accordance with the Legislative Council bylaws because Holt’s offer was rescinded by the tri-executives.

Specifically, “X.2.A.a, which states that missing application materials permit a ratification to be tabled. Considering a speech on behalf of Holt’s nominating authority was now missing, it was in violation of the bylaws to proceed with this ratification,” the statement read. 

“Holt was present during Public Open Hearing, and asked to be, and was, heard by the council, as is within their rights as a student,” the council claimed.

In the statement, Council further claims that the removal of Holt’s ratification was not personal, rather due to CUSG legal proceedings. 

“To clarify, tabling Emma Holt’s ratification was not an action motivated by personal opinion or disagreement. Rather, the motion happened in accordance with the proper legal proceeding.” 

Additionally, the statement states that if there was a desire to open a conversation on this matter further, a motion could have been made.

“Legislative Council strives to uphold our bylaws and will always abide by our governing documents, ensuring to always act in manners outlined by the same,” the statement concluded. 

Editor’s note: The Bold reached out to the executive branch, the tri-executives declined to comment at this time.