Union referendum, CatCard marks tough year for ASUA

Last semester, as complaints about the deterioration of the Student Union grew louder, ASUA responded by surveying University of Arizona students in hopes that a majority would support a $80-per-year fee to pay for renovations.

The referendum flopped, with about three-fourths of voting students opting against the fee.

After the referendum debacle was put on the back burner, ASUA elections followed earlier this semester.

With about 10 percent of the student population voting, the Associated Students retained career ASUA members as their top officials - President Tara Taylor, Executive Vice President Cisco Aguilar and Administrative Vice President Ryan Rosensteel.

After elections concluded, ASUA was forced to confront several issues that concerned students, including the Intercollegiate Athletics' pending contract with Nike.

UA President Peter Likins spoke to the Senate March 11, while anti-Nike activists, who drew attention to allegations of Nike's use of illegal child labor, responded to Likins' assertions that Nike's Code of Conduct will be enforced.

ASUA did respond to student concerns about Main Library hours. With the help of former Sen. Mary Peterson, the library is now open 24 hours a day.

ASUA's yearly carnival event, Spring Fling, turned a profit for the first time in several years, and garnered more than $80,000 for UA clubs and organizations.

Sen. Summer Katzenbach created a new program for incoming UA freshmen known as "Bear Down Camp."

The camp, which Katzenbach said was praised by UA officials, begins this summer, with five freshmen.

The embattled UA CatCard plagued ASUA, with officials being forced to respond to an overwhelming number of student concerns.

Students challenged the Senate to address problems with the new identification card - problems that began when university officials illegally released student, faculty and staff information to MCI Telecommunications Corp. and Saguaro Credit Union. UA officials retrieved the information, but activists challenged the Senate to make a statement about the problem.

A resolution was drafted by Sen. Marisa Hall and economics freshman Travis Klein.

But the Senate decided the wording, that included lines like, "the ASUA issues this resolution in full denouncement of the precipitous institution of the CatCard," was too strong.

Former Sen. Morgan Long and Peterson gutted the proposal, and the Senate passed a new, watered-down resolution calling for better privacy issue training for UA officials.

And things aren't looking up for the newly elected officials.

On May 1, Klein said he intends to start a campaign next semester to recall Taylor, who was sworn into office last week.

To force a recall election, Klein will need to round-up signatures from 10 percent of the student body - about 3,300 students.