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Appropriations board just

To the editor,

I was upset to see false accusations and dumb-founded claims of the ASUA by College Republicans' President as well as the general article written in the Wildcat on Friday. As a strong SAS supporter, it was wrong to say that the ASUA is against the SAS. Next, this year the Appropriations Board (which has been fair) and along with the Club Advocates have helped out clubs that traditionally haven't received any money before. Many minority and international student organizations have received funding for the first time.

There have been issues raised about Camp Wildcat, SAS and the Escort Service. First of all, the ASUA Escort Service is not a club, but an ASUA group. Therefore, the funding for Escort Service is an internal affair. It is not to be discussed by the Appropriations Board. Next, Camp Wildcat asked for a huge sum of funding in the beginning of the year. Even though they did not get funding in the first approps meeting, they did and can re-apply for funding every week. SAS (even though I support them completely) and political and religious clubs can only receive limited funding from funds that the ASUA received directly from ASUA Bookstore. The reasoning behind this is that UA students have a choice of buying books from ASUA bookstore or off-campus stores. The rest of the funds are only provided for clubs that are open only to people of all faiths, political associations, sexual orientation, etc.

As a former president of Muslim Student Association, I know that the MSA could not receive a lot of funding from ASUA. However, our club went out and received sponsorships and support from faculty. Although the Corndog Appreciation Society is a weird club, it has played by the books. According to the ASUA constitution, clubs that are open to all, and have undergraduate student members can receive funding.

As an SAS member myself, I would like to say we don't need money to fight human rights from ASUA. SAS is about justice - whether fast or slow, the wrong-doers (i.e. Nike) will pay for their crimes.

Ahmad Saad Nasim

ASUA senator