By way of the infamous SMU grapevine, the Editorial Board occasionally becomes privy to criticisms probably not intended for its ears. One such rumbling of discontent that made its way to The Daily Campus newsroom was voiced during last week’s Senate meeting condemning the content of recent editorials. The editorials in question? Those that challenged Senate legislation and policy.

But it appears Ed Board has a few allies on Senate, particularly Student Body President Dustin Odham, who took it upon himself during the meeting to not only say the editorials in question presented valid points, but to admit Senate could be doing more with its power. He also encouraged senators to write commentaries to be published in The Daily Campus defending policies they see as valid.

Hooray! Odham has gone far and above the modest expectations of the Editorial Board by encouraging a dialogue between senators and their constituents. More importantly he has embraced an open marketplace of ideas that only a free press can sustain. The point of an editorial is, after all, to encourage discussion and ultimately change the way things are done. Odham has taken the Senate criticism gracefully, showing a political maturity many of us have come not to expect from Senate.

The true test of our university representation will be whether the senators follow Dustin’s advice or continue to lick their wounds in the corner. Senators fought to be elected to their positions; students should demand they continue to fight to keep those positions.