GPSC president works without fanfare

Although 2004-2005 ASUA President Alistair Chapman may have done a good job representing undergrads, Graduate and Professional Student Council President Amanda Brobbel worked at least as hard for graduate and professional students.

Brobbel's achievements began in the fall, when diligent lobbying persuaded the UA to purchase the La Aldea graduate student housing complex, after residents of the complex presented their complaints regarding the present management to the GPSC. Brobbel worked to increase UA funding for graduate student travel and graduate student-run conferences by $50,000. Brobbel secured another $50,000 funding stream for needy international students with dependents, and secured a $20,000 funding stream to support the creation of an on campus parents' resource center. Brobbel pushed hard to make sure that Teaching and Research Assistants' tuition remission increased to 70 percent, after being told in the fall that financial realities would not allow progress on that front this year.

Aside from exaggerating Chapman's role in campus affairs, a recent eulogy for Chapman by Graff and Chang (published on Monday) gives Chapman credit for a number of things that didn't happen. Chapman did not have an appreciable impact on UA tuition setting nor on forcing changes to the UA student health insurance plan.

Graff and Chang lauded Chapman for working for all UA students. I have no doubt that Chapman took actions that benefited both graduates and undergraduates. However, Chapman's efforts were focused on undergraduate issues such as UA commencement, the UA meal plan, and Arizona Financial Aid Trust. Despite his lack of understanding of graduate student issues, Chapman jostled to assert an entitlement to represent graduate students. In doing so, Chapman may well have cost graduates a steeper tuition increase. Chapman also carried on the long ASUA tradition of keeping elected UA graduate students out of the Arizona Students Association, a body to which every UA student pays a $1 per semester tax.

Paul Thorn
philosophy graduate student

Farewell to frat row

As I am about to graduate I have learned a few things here at the UA in my four years. Things like, no matter what time of year it is there is always going to be construction and that getting basketball tickets is harder then getting classes. But one thing I have learned disturbs me very much. This is the fact that a large majority of fraternity brothers and sorority sisters at the UA are staunch young Republicans. You see, my greek friends outside of the gated Scottsdale communities and other affluent white suburban neighborhoods you grew up in, there is a scary place. A place where senior citizens cannot afford prescription drugs and high school kids in urban communities cannot read at a fourth grade level. Yes, it is the same place that you see on the news; it isn't make-believe, it is actually real. This place is called the real world, and it isn't fun. It is a place where kids don't get luxury SUVs for graduating high school or have a closet full of juicy couture. You see, all students at the UA have been given a gift; a gift many people in the United States and around the world only dream of having, this gift being a college diploma. We have the power to change the world. So instead of standing strong in your conservative beliefs, try to look outside your bubble. We all have been so fortunate to go to college, and maybe we need to share that wealth a little more. I do realize you give a lot of money to charities by having men take of their clothes and getting women to wrestle in pools of mud, but that just isn't enough. You see I also grew up in an affluent suburb and know where you're coming from. Yet I peeked my head out and realized this world isn't going to change by itself. So instead of getting a white collar job right out of college, I have decided to dedicate a year of my life to volunteer with Americorps. I am not saying you have to be a martyr and give up your way of life to change the world. But you also don't have to support people like George W. Bush just because daddy and mommy do. Think for yourself and change the world. Don't go through life and realize at the age of 82 that you made no real contribution to the greater good of society. I know we have all heard those cheesy sayings that goes something like, "We are the future," but it is true. It is not too late to change! Go out on a limb and see where it takes you. I have never heard anyone saying that helping others in need wasn't a life-changing experience. There are millions of problems out there, and you truly can make a world of difference.

Bryan Kinney
media arts senior