By Casey Cuny
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 24, 1997

Wildcat led to failure of union referendum

Editor:

The referendum is over. ASUA lost, and students lost. They lost control over the union, they lost control over their money, they lost the chance for a new union in the reasonable future, they lost the $280,000 a year that would have been set aside for student programs, they lost the chance to keep tuition increases at a minimum - they lost- but the Wildcat won. The Wildcat's bias leaked from the editorial page to the front page, and bias poured on throughout the daily paper. It is truly a shame when there is no other major source of media, and the monopoly decides, unethically, to run an election. Aspiring young Woodwards and Bernsteins in the age of tabloids. I hate to stereotype - but the shoe fits. The Wildcat's stance on the issue was as bold as the ink spelling out "$40 FEE" on the front page for two weeks. We, ASUA, tried in vain to express the truth behind the "$40 FEE" and discuss the referendum democratically. I consider myself a reasonable person, and I consider the majority of people to be of reasonable nature. We examined, toiled, questioned, and voted on a referendum we believed was reasonably the best plan for students. I vehemently believe if we would have spoken with all 4,400 voters, the decision would have been different. We were up against insurmountable odds dealing with the Wildcat and the self-promoting efforts of Jeff Schrade. We will regroup and try again, taking student input and putting together another reasonable plan for students and for the union. I just ask that the Wildcat will use an objective eye in the future and examine the question without choosing an answer. I enjoy reading your editorials but please keep them confined to their appropriate place. Finally, end the group think that has plagued your club - Oh I mean paper.

Casey Cuny
Marketing senior
ASUA Executive Vice President