When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one group of students to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of personkind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold this truth to be self-evident, — That whenever any Association of Student Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.
Student Government Associations long established should not be changed for light and transient causes. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Student Government Association, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of this staff; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Associations of Student Government. The history of the current SGA is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these Students.
To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid student body.
Its Vice-President has, on no less than three occasions, beaten mercilessly Editor-in-Chief Ian Benson. He has shed no small number of tears over these occurrences.
It has, on one occasion, forgotten to invite the Editors-in-Chief to the semester board meeting.
It has called together student groups at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with its measures.
It has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our students, and eat out our substance.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. An SGA whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyranny, is unfit to be the ruler of free students.
This Student Organization is, and of Right ought to be a Free and Independent Group; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the SGA, and that all political connection between them and the SGA, is and ought to be totally dissolved. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Signed,
The Wooster Vice
(Unfortunately, our fortunes are incredibly small, and now that we are independent, we are somewhat lacking in funds. Financial support is appreciated. Checks can be made out to The Wooster Vice and sent to us through campus mail. We welcome all help in these darkest of hours, these times that try men’s and women’s souls.)