Letters to the Editor

Student Senate shows support for Ponton, White

As former and current members of MUSGA, we possess a keen insight into the qualifications of the candidates for Student Government President.

We all know what it takes to be successful as a senator and how those qualities are applicable to the office of the SGA president. We know how well student government can run and how enjoyable and less stressful it is with a president and executive staff that can work well with the Student Senate. We feel as if we enjoyed a prosperous time during the Jacobs-Beckett/Ponton; we also hope to be able to extend this period of civility within student government by being able to serve under the leadership of the right candidate.

Heather Richardson (COE), James Hopkins III(GRAD), Archie Locke (CTC), Derek Scarbro (COLA), Nathaniel Kuratomi (COLA), Beatrice Spradley (GRAD), Jacob Schieck (COLA), Kristy Hays (COLA), Nicole Adkins (COS), Michele Kuhn (REGENTS), Kristy Kuhn( COB), Erin Dager (COS), Regina Lewis (SOM), Misty Skidmore (COB), Dennis Hicks (GRAD), Jack Hanks Jr. (COEHS), Christopher Davis (CTC) and Kelly Jefferies (COB)

Former vice-president says vote for Walker

My name is Rogers Beckett, former Student Body Vice-President of your Marshall University. I would first of all like to begin by saying thank you to the students of Marshall that let me represent them along side Brandi Jacobs in the past year. It was an experience I will never forget.

I am writing to The Parthenon to let students on campus know how I felt about the upcoming SGA Presidential elections. From what I hear, you have one of the cleanest, most issue-based campaigns that have ever been held, and all the candidates should be congratulated for that, but I feel I must let you know that of all the candidate choices, Team Walker/Dennison is definitely the team I support the most.

I worked with Bill Walker when I was President of the Senate, and I cannot say enough about his leadership abilities in student government. I think his past military experience and plain honesty and integrity make him the man for the job.

Cory Dennison, a former teammate of mine has shown the same qualities to me for years, and with your help, they will be able to show them to you through the year to come. I encourage everyone on campus to please get involved in this election. By simply casting your ballot, you are letting your voice be heard.

Rogers Beckett, SGA vice-president 1999-2000

Student says team belittled Greeks

I am writing this letter in regard to the campaign sign at the rear entrance into Smith Hall. This sign is from the Ponton-White campaign and displays Greek life, specifically Alpha Sigma Phi, in a very negative way.

The sign shows a person with the Greek letters "Alpha Sigma Phi" being doused with something by another figure wearing no Greek letters.

It is in the opinion of our organization that the Ponton/White campaign has chosen to belittle the Greek system and Alpha Sigma Phi in general.

Running against Ponton-White is Bill Walker, who is an Alpha Sig. It would be bad enough that Mr. Ponton is taking a personal shot at Bill Walker to advance himself in the election, but even worse that he would involve the entire chapter who prides itself on class.

On a campus where the Greek system is often downplayed, Alpha Sigma Phi has set goals to rid the image that society has about fraternities and sororities.

For instance, this year we have compiled over three thousand hours of community service work. We have worked hard to make this public and have a spotless record. We do not feel, in any way, that the Ponton-White campaign realizes the pride our brothers take in being Greek and Alpha Sig.

Even though Mr. Ponton did choose to Rush our fraternity, he was not around nearly enough time to understand her.

As a student organization, we ask for a formal apology to our chapter. We also ask that the sign be removed immediately. It is understood that the heat of the battle may result in a lack of ethics, but these shots at a first class organization is extremely uncalled for.

Kris Parker, Alpha Sigma Phi president

Finance chairwoman corrects SGA team

After the March 8 SGA Presidential debate I was very concerned about a few misleading and inaccurate statements that were made regarding the MUSGA finance committee and their practices.

The presidential candidates Bill Walker and Cory Dennison and their staff have a platform, which includes the idea that they want to ease restrictions for student organizations to get funding from SGA. If you have a legitimate project, you should get the money-no matter where it is (http://www.teamwalkerdennison.com).

Surely this sounds to be a noble and admirable goal, but they expanded this statement in the debate, questioning the fairness of the finance committee saying that it did not apply the same standards of evaluation to all of the student organizations, and that we restricted organizations activities to the state of West Virginia.

This is a very unfortunate statement, since its inaccuracy is blatantly apparent to those who have requested money from MUSGA. As chairman of the finance committee since January 2000, I can only speak for our actions this semester. I have NEVER seen Bill Walker, Cory Dennison, or any of their staff at a senate meeting where the funding of organizations was discussed, or at a finance meeting, whose meeting times and agenda are posted in the SGA office (MSC 2W29B).

As to the charge that we approve funding requests on our own whims and that we will not fund projects if they occur outside of the state of West Virginia, this is also untrue. This semester we have allocated funds to: $500 to the Music Educators National Conference, $500 to MU United Methodist Students, $500 to Pubic Relations Student Society of America, $500 to the Model United Nations, $500 to Lambda Alpha epsilon, $500 to the Marshall Newman Catholic Center, $500 to the Women's Studies Student Association, $500 to Phi Alpha Theta, and $225 to the Society of Composers. Of these nine organizations which received funding from SGA, seven of the organizations projects will be taking place outside the state of West Virginia. Furthermore, all of the funding that organizations requested this semester was approved.

Walker and Dennison also charge that the process is too difficult for the students to complete. I would think that the numerous groups and organizations who applied for funding this semester would be a testament to the fact that it can be done.

The finance committee was created to help student organizations obtain funding from SGA and we work extremely hard to ensure that every request is reviewed and hopefully supported by the SGA. I would like to invite Bill Walker, Cory Dennison, and their staff to a finance committee meeting so that they can speak from first hand experience and knowledge about the finance committee and its procedures. The next finance meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 14 at 3:45 p.m. in the SGA office.

I feel that it is very unfortunate that in a presidential campaign, I would be forced to publicly correct a candidate's inaccurate and misleading statements, and I regret having to take this action. However, I think that it is vital for Marshall students to know and understand their candidate's platforms and knowledge of the issues.

Kristy Hays, chairwoman of the Finance Committee