By
Brett Erickson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA official defends right to free speech, doesn't know who is responsible for yesterday's
At least three different versions of a flier criticizing UA President Peter Likins were plastered around campus sometime yesterday.
One flyer called Likins a "FAT CAT." Two others, which featured Likins' picture, stated, "Even though it's me who's in bed with corporations, it's the students who get screwed" and "Hee hee . . . I fooled people into thinking I actually give a damn about students."
The statement "A public service announcement made possible by Guerrilla Advertising" was at the bottom of each flier.
Likins was out of town yesterday and could not be reached for comment. University of Arizona spokeswoman Sharon Kha said she was unaware of who or what group was responsible for the action.
Even though she disagreed with the message of the fliers, Kha recognized the students' rights to voice their opinions.
"Universities are the place where freedom of speech is to be encouraged," she said. "If you can't speak your mind on a university campus, where can you go?"
One group that has been at odds with Likins is Students Against Sweatshops. Last week, Likins said the UA would not withdraw from a sweatshop monitoring organization - the Fair Labor Association - as SAS and the UA Human and Labor Rights Task Force want to happen.
SAS spokeswoman Rachel Wilson said she did not know who was responsible for plastering the fliers around campus.
"Even though the message sounds like something we might have done, I don't think we did," said Wilson, who is also a psychology graduate student.
At least seven of the fliers, including two on the sign in front of the Administration building, were affixed to signs and gates with a glue-like substance. Kha did not know the extent of damage caused by the adhesive material used.
If it caused damage, "then it becomes an issue that becomes an expense that takes away from the needs of other students," Kha said. "If they're damaging to buildings, then it's vandalism."
Wilson said she would have known if SAS had planned the event.
"If we decided to damage property in some way, that is something we would have to agree upon as a whole group," Wilson said.
Albert Tarcola, the director of UA Facilities Management, could not be reached at his home yesterday evening to comment on the extent of the damage.
