Disappointing ASA policy cost board great director

I wanted to write regarding Monday's article about Jenny Rimsza's resignation from the board of the Arizona Students Association ("Student lobbyist quits over revoked voting privileges"). I served on the ASA board for three and a half years during my time at the UA and worked closely with four student body presidents.

At no time during my years serving on the board was I instructed that I did not have the right to vote my conscience on issues presented before me. I am disappointed to learn that Jenny was instructed that she was not allowed to exercise her right to vote according to her views. The purpose of appointing delegates to serve on the board is to ensure that the views of all students are fully represented. The student body president appoints individuals that he/she feels are intelligent, competent persons who have the ability to process information, form an opinion, and based on their judgment and experience, enter a vote that will impact students across the state. [Read article]

Focused Excellence has many students freaked out. The future of the three Arizona universities is currently in the molding stages, as the presidents, provosts and regents continue twisting and sculpting the new vision of the roles of the higher education facilities.

Ambiguous terminology such as "elite" and "excellence" are being tossed into UA campus conversation, often without much thought. Talks about the process and the path toward this new vision of the UA seem to be floating atop administrative levels, trickling down to faculty and staff. [Read article]

As the Average Maturity by Age Index (AMAI) steadily drops, America must adapt certain laws and practices to accommodate its increasingly juvenile population. Jolted into concern by a friend's recent 21st birthday, I passionately urge voters to tack a last minute proposition on to the November ballot: Proposition 500 ÷ to raise the minimum legal drinking age to 25.

Granted, there are several problems with the activism I propose. Primarily, I am 23, which makes my suggestion somewhat self-defeating. But I, personally, am willing to risk sacrificing two years of legal drinking to serve a higher purpose (which has nothing to do with drinking, and which I will conceal from the reader until the near end of this column. I thank you to not skip ahead). [Read article]