ASUA's actions toward ASD rational, designed to best raise awareness

This letter is in response to Kent B. Kloepping's guest column on ASD's status within ASUA (Monday, April 28). His column did a poor job of depicting ASUA's Senate's position on ASD. Calling the ASUA Senate's vote on ASD "close to blatant discrimination" is ludicrous and borders on libel.

Here are the facts on the situation. Last year Mindy McCollum, VP of Programs and Services, appointed Ann Fowler, a very competent person, as director of ASD. On the advice of an undergraduate senator who sat on the appointment interviews, the Senate confirmed the appointment. Members of ASD were dissatisfied with the appointment and throughout the year they refused to work with Ann. In fact, in a self proclaimed "boycott," members wanted complete control of the leadership of their organization yet still remain an ASUA program. This action would remove a large amount of ASD's financial accountability to ASUA and negate the purpose of VP-appointed directors.

The Senate decided if ASD was classified as a club or organization, its mission to educate students on disability related issues, assess attitudes on campus toward disabled students, and affect change could still be accomplished. Also as a club, the wishes of the members to have complete control of their organization and still keeps them financially accountable to ASUA for any student government funds the club spends.

Mr. Kloepping charges discrimination. This charge is not only misplaced it is completely false. This is not a situation where there is a group who wants to exclude another group. This is a situation about the best way for ASD to have control of their leadership, accomplish their mission and remain a part of ASUA. We recommend that Mr. Kloepping get the whole story on what has happened before he makes personal attacks.

By Chadd Garcia and Lauren Sliger (letter)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
May 5, 1997