Opinion: Editorial

Hail to the thief

As Senior Class President Oliver Delgado walked out of his Aug. 29 court hearing — where he pleaded guilty to theft of six Van Galder bus tickets — our illustrious representative made a short statement to The Badger Herald that encompassed the grace and poise we have come to expect during his short term.

“”We’re two months away from electing a new president, and I think that should be the main issue right now,” Delgado told a Herald reporter.

Although his “country first” sentiment is certainly indicative of our first-rate senior class ambassador, we struggle to sympathize with his impassioned plea.

How can we possibly focus on an election of monumental importance when our own president has nearly blinded us with such sterling leadership?

Delgado is a man who, prior to his election, found his route to Puerto Rico blocked by the constraints of Memorial Union’s hours of operation. Rather than accept the tyrannical rule of the essentials desk, Delgado liberated six Van Galder bus tickets. As he said himself, “I didn’t go in with the intention of stealing. That’s not who I am, and that’s not how I was raised.” Knowing this, his actions could only be interpreted as a striking commentary on the lack of 24-hour businesses and the weak market value of the American dollar.

But as is usually the case in this backward society of ours, Delgado’s bold move — some would call him a “maverick” — was thwarted by an antiquated notion of “the law.”

Police officers found him at his apartment and confronted him about the theft.

While Delgado bowed to pressure from the judicial system, admitting his violation of a meaningless law, he still had his integrity. Delgado refused to cower to the “law and order” crowd’s call for his resignation, knowing he should not be punished for something simply because it was “against the law” or “morally unjustifiable.”

Delgado may want to serve the campus as chief “decider” in the elite role responsible for choosing our prestigious commencement speakers, but if he insists we should be focusing on the national election instead of his brilliant protest, then Delgado should fire one last salvo for the good of this campus and step out of the spotlight. While Delgado’s revolutionary reconstitution of the idea of “free trade” has inspired us, he must cede his vision to the politics of the moment.

Of course, we understand the steadfastness of his position may make it impossible for Delgado to resign his office with his integrity intact. We urge the Offices of the Dean of Students to aid our honorable representative in his graceful ouster by forcing him from his position.

So for the sake of progress and the good of the campus, step aside, Oliver. While your actions can certainly be described as “unprecedented,” it seems this campus is decades from your vision of honor and dignity.

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19 older comments

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Your disgusting little backhanded snipe at Senator McCain is totally reprehensible.

“some would call him [Delgado] a ‘maverick’�

Really? How does Delgado’s petty theft earn any meaningful comparison with the honorable Senator John McCain?

Now informed readers recall the Clinton’s exiting office with the White House china in tow. It would therefore be more appropriate to call Delgado “slick”, yes?

Try restraining your Leftist urge to spit at Senator McCain.

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Your disgusting little backhanded snipe at Senator McCain is totally reprehensible.

“some would call him [Delgado] a ‘maverick’�

Really? How does Delgado’s petty theft earn any meaningful comparison with the honorable Senator John McCain?

Now informed readers recall the Clinton’s exiting office with the White House china in tow. It would therefore be more appropriate to call Delgado “slick”, yes?

Try restraining your Leftist urge to spit at Senator McCain.

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Best. Column. Ever.

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Almost true story: I once saw Smathers take off a Radiohead T-shirt… to reveal another Radiohead T-shirt underneath.

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OLIVER DELGADO MUST RESIGN, NOW!

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Hear! Hear!

If he lacks the grace and brains to step down, give him the boot. Anyone who agrees should email Assoc Dean Kevin Helmkamp and let him know.

Don’t let this be shoved under the rug!

Germane Z Stemme

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“Try restraining your Leftist urge to spit at Senator McCain.”

You take yourself too seriously, repub jackass.

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u guys have seriously NOTHING else to talk about… BH is full of shit. How dare you write:

“Delgado may want to serve the campus as chief �decider� in the elite role responsible for choosing our prestigious commencement speakers”

When 3/4 of the campus didn’t even know we had class officers or much less knew their responsibilities.

I’m sick of hearing about this!

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“Really? How does Delgado’s petty theft earn any meaningful comparison with the honorable Senator John McCain?”

Obviously, John McCain was unable to commit petty theft during the 5 1/2 years he spent in Hanoi. In prison. As a POW.

I’ll bet you didn’t know he was a POW, did you?

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He will not resign.

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Wow! Is this STILL being written about after half a year? Is Madison that uninteresting a city that it can’t devote it’s time to UP-TO-DATE articles pertaining to campus issues? Six months is plenty of time to find a new lead story. This is ridiculous! People make mistakes, that’s just life. But, we learn from them and move on…MOVE ON Badger Herald, I’m tired of reading about this!

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Wow! Is this STILL being written about after half a year? Is Madison that uninteresting a city that it can’t devote it’s time to UP-TO-DATE articles pertaining to campus issues? Six months is plenty of time to find a new lead story. This is ridiculous! People make mistakes, that’s just life. But, we learn from them and move on…MOVE ON Badger Herald, I’m tired of reading about this!

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This article really makes me hate white people even more. I like how you bastards say your ready for Obama when u can’t even handle Oliver Delgado. O yeah that’s right white people don’t make mistakes. As if they didn’t rape black women and beat niggers. I can’t wait to get my degree and get out of this hick ass town!

Signed A MAD BLACK MAN!

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This article really makes me hate white people even more. I like how you bastards say your ready for Obama when u can’t even handle Oliver Delgado. O yeah that’s right white people don’t make mistakes. As if they didn’t rape black women and beat niggers. I can’t wait to get my degree and get out of this hick ass town!

Signed A MAD BLACK MAN!

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Pfft. This has nothing to do with Oliver’s race.

Signed A Fairly Happy Black Man

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This has EVERYTHING to do with his race!!! If he were white it wouldn’t make the headlines…4 months later!!!

Signed AN ANGRY BLACK WOMAN

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As a minority on this campus even i can’t see why why THIS makes you hate white people even more. This guy made a mistake and he needs to accept responsibility. It’s as simple as that. If anything, him or anyone around him playing the “race card” makes it look worse. This situation is starting to get out of hand and as long as people around him keep playing the “race card” you are continuing to make us “law-biding” minorities look bad. Do the right thing, step down. Enough is enough.

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Won’t someone think of the REAL victim here, Mr. Van Galder?

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Fuck you.. All of you

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