Campus Times
February 28, 1997
1) We would ask that Ms. Fittante attend an ASF meeting to understand the actions of ASF, and how our actions show we do understand the needs of the students on the campus. To the recollection of members who have been on Forum for three years, Ms. Fittante has never attended an ASF meeting in any capacity. If Ms. Fittante would do basic research, as is required of any good journalist, she would understand that her blanket accusations and generalizations are unfounded.
2) In an interview done by Managing Editor Andrea Gardner, printed in the February 14, 1997, issue of the Campus Times, "Student challenging ASF for new goal", Scott Mac Kay, student representative to the board of trustees, informed Ms. Gardner of the changing role of ASF from an exclusive social body to a political social group. Critical information was left out of the story, information that Ms. Fittante should have known.
3) ASF does not deny that it must be a political body advocating the rights of the students on this campus, and it is striving to act in a way best representing students needs, while remaining socially active. We agree with Ms. Fittante that the absolute power of the University rests in its students. We also encourage her to use her position, not as a forum for gossip, but as a means of advocating meaningful, well-researched issues to motivate students to work toward helping themselves. For the last two issues, Ms. Fittante has only written unsupported ideas that exist in her reality.
1) The Senior Retreat has never fully been funded by the ASF. It is not an ASF event. The Office of Student Life has always had to work to get money for this event. It has no official budget from the department which supposedly sponsors it: Student Life.
2) Student Life has received approximately $3,800 from ASF this year. More money funded to this department would not be prudent.
3) In the past three years, records show the Senior Retreat has had only 50 total attendees, including faculty and staff members. Only 30-40 students, at most, attend this event. Apparently, ASF has done the research Ms. Avelar failed to do. If ASF funded this event fully, the cost would be approximately $90 per student. How would the majority of underclassmen feel about their student activity fee paying for 30 members of the senior class to stay over night in the mountains and reminisce about their years at ULV?
4) Last, and most importantly, in reference to Ms. Fittante's editorial, "students [have] a powerful voice." It is interesting to note that the editorial pleading the case of the Senior Retreat was written by a sophomore. Where are the seniors who feel so strongly about attending this retreat? They have written no letters to department heads nor have they come to the ASF Finance Review Board meetings to solicit the funds.
1) How can the Campus Times understand the activities of the ASF when they continually fail to attend ASF meetings and the majority of their staff do not attend ASF events? If the La Verne campus is filled with political issues which need attention, it is also the duty of the Campus Times to write stories and editorials addressing, not fill its pages with merit-less news.
2) Professional newspapers are involved in the communities they cover. If the Campus Times is a professional newspaper, why do they not do the necessary research to properly understand the issues that are important to the ULV community and its students?
3) Instead of writing unsubstantiated editorials and incomplete stories, the ASF would like to ask the entire Campus Times staff and any students who may have concerns to attend our open meetings (which are held at 8 a.m. each Wednesday in the West Dining Room of Davenport Dining Hall), so that we may work together to solve the pressing problems at the University of La Verne.