By Valerie Meyer and Caron Spector
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 4, 1998

Election coverage shows 'bias' and 'gross inaccuracies'

To the Editor:

We are writing to express out disappointment with the Wildcat's [ASUA] election coverage. Unfortunately, we are not surprised. In addition to gross inaccuracies, the Wildcat has displayed blatant bias and a lack of profssionalism.

The Wildcat's coverage bias is obvious in reading several articles from the Feb. 27 issue. When the students cannot depend on the Wildcat to fairly report on candidates' previous accomplishments, why should we rely on the Wildcat to provide analysis of complex election issues and evaluation of candidates? The article "Promises made, promises kept" unduly praises Executive Vice Presidential candidtate Cisco Aguilar for merely expanding upon current programs as an ASUA senator while not fulfilling his promises to create new projects. By contrast, the article generally downplays the contriputions to ASUA by fellow Executive Vice Presidential candidate mary Brandenberger. Brandenberger is exactly the type of person we need in ASUA: someone who recognizes a need and takes the actions necessary to meet that need. Her proposal to establish the Executive Vice President Chief of Staff position filled a void. She did not simply create a job for herself, as the Wildcat implies. The Wildcat's tone in writing that "unlike [someone in] an elected position, Brandenberger was not required to set goals" is offensively discriminatory and demeans the necessity of the postion. Brandenberger's effectiveness as the Executive Vice President' Chief of Staff this year proves that the position and Brandenberger are essential components of ASUA. Moreover, her actoins evidence that promises Brandenberger makes are kept, and often exceeded.

Finally, Wildcat coverage of the debate between Presidential candidates Tara Taylor and Patrick Williams is entirely one-sided. Even the title, "Williams slams Taylor for double-dealing on Union issue," exaggerates Williams' allegations. Williams and the Wildcat suggest that Taylor favors the IIF over Student Union renovations. This is inaccurate - period. Taylor, along with the majority of UA students, obviously supports Memorial Student Union renovations - and anyone who's ever eaten at Louie's Lower Level does, too. ASUA's role in the progress of the IIF was and is a non-issue. Whether the administration considers student approval of the project or not is an issue over which Taylor and ASUA have no control. Further, Tara Taylor's accomplishments were minimized in both Wildcat articles. We probably should have expected that considering the sorry election coverage as a whole.

Valerie Meyer
German Studies and Political Science Junior

and

Caron Spector
Interdisciplinary Studies Junior