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UA student says she was misled about scholarship

Arizona Daily Wildcat AARON FARNSWORTH Sophmore Anastasia Ching speaks about her concerns with being the Arizona Maid of Cotton. Ching finds certain duties of the office restricting.

Hoping to protect students from lurking dangers in the campus community, UA faculty and staff often urge students to be careful at on-campus teller machines, campus libraries and while walking alone at night.

However, warnings against on-campus advertisements are rarely heard.

Anastasia Ching, a journalism sophomore, said she is struggling with a fraudulent advertisement in what may be a legal dispute with the Phoenix Cotton Women, a 37-year-old service club that supports the cotton industry.

She was honored after winning the "Maid of Cotton" scholarship contest, but said the happiness soon ended when she was forced to cut her credit hours and miss classes for the organization.

After seeing an advertisement in her residence hall last year for a contest that granted a $2,500 cash scholarship, a $3,500 wardrobe, a year of free hair styling and a modeling course to its recipient, Ching chose to apply.

"The Arizona Maid of Cotton put up posters in dormitories and has been around for many years, recruiting at universities," said Anthony Ching, Anastasia's father and attorney. "Anastasia saw the poster and the main thing that brought her attention was the winner got a $2,500 scholarship."

Ching said the advertisement failed to mention that she would not receive the cash scholarship until the following year and her wardrobe would remain in the possession of her tour manager.

Now, a dispute is rising against the Phoenix Cotton Women for false advertising.

In a letter to Patty Rovey, the president and tour manager of Phoenix Cotton Women, the elder Ching stated that "as a matter of law, the widely advertised promise of a $2,500 scholarship was fraudulent inducement."

Rovey declined to comment about the club, the scholarship and the accusations raised against the club.

After becoming the 1999-2000 Maid of Cotton, Anastasia Ching was "swept off the stage to sign a contract," she said. "You don't get to read it because they turn to the page where you sign."

Ching said she did not fully understand her responsibilities as the Maid of Cotton until she had already signed the legal document.

Ching said the scholarship required that she drop to a minimal number of classes which would be scheduled around the needs of the Phoenix Cotton Women. She would also have to travel to cities such as Casa Grande, Phoenix and Sun City to make weekly appearances.

"They don't want me to miss any of the appearances, and if I don't ... I will miss my classes," Ching said.

In the legal agreement signed by Ching and Rovey, the Maid of Cotton agrees to "cooperate fully, to the best of her abilities."

Ching said she has cooperated to the best of her abilities, but the Phoenix Cotton Women were not being reasonable by demanding that she attend all functions or resign.

"Resigning is something shameful," she said. "All I was doing was going to my classes."

Last year's Maid of Cotton, veterinary science senior Jennifer Hume, holds a more positive perspective on her experience during her term, but still had difficulties with school.

"It was difficult at times to juggle school here and events in Phoenix, but they were very clear about the commitment involved, even before the contest," she said.

Hume failed a course during her term while taking 12 units, but insisted that her experience was a positive one.

"I did find that I was falling behind in my classes, and had too many difficult classes (but) I would not give all blame to failing a class to my duties as Maid," she said.

Despite the troubles she has had to endure, Ching said she feels confident that the Maid of Cotton can be beneficial.

"I am not saying it won't be a good experience, I am sure it would be, but school is my first priority," she said.

Although a dispute still exists, Ching said she is not trying to tarnish the Phoenix Cotton Women's reputation, but hopes UA students who put their trust in on-campus advertisements, will be forewarned.

"I don't want them to recruit on our campus anymore if they are going to ask girls to fail their classes," Ching said. "A lot of girls won't have the guts to say 'no'. I'm not looking to make them look bad, I'm just trying to protect other people."