Dotters-Katz releases statement

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to you this morning with urgency and great worry. I certainly am not one to throw around the term “student voice” loosely. I also think that often the accusation of silencing student voice is used to muddle an issue, and to make a disagreement on policy, a person attack.

THAT BEING SAID: I have never in my time in student government seen student voice and student power threatened more so then by this ballot measure(see below).

While OSPIRG is not mentioned once, according to Michael Reagan the former OSPIRG campus organizer, if passed, it should be translated as general support for funding OSPIRG.

However, if you read the ballot measure, it is written so loosely that organizations like but not limited to OSA, OSCC, OSERA, USSA ect. could fit under it’s general description.

If this ballot measure is voted down, then anyone could easily wage an attack on OSA, USSA, even APO, because the description is so loose, these easily could fall under it. Any student group or program that in any way works on behalf of social justice, civic engagement, environmentalism,  would be at risk.

Regardless of the outcome, I cannot come to any other conclusion as to why the content of the ballot measure is so vague, other then an outright attempt to trick students. This alone is a serious and reprehensible attack on student voice.

It is insulting that OSPIRG Staff continue to act surprised when questions regarding the organizations transparency are raised, when they engage in such deceitful politics.

If Mr. Reagan wants to put up a ballot measure judging student body opinion on funding OSPIRG, why doesn’t the language clearly say that? I would in no way be opposed to such a ballot measure, in fact, it would be very appropriate and helpful to more effectively gauge student support, or lack thereof.

I strongly urge you to attend the meeting at 6 pm. tonight in the Longhouse. The possible consequences of this are tremendous, and what OSPIRG is doing is unfair, unethical, and frankly just pathetic.

Regards,

Sam Dotters-Katz

ASUO President

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Ballot Measure:

Should the ASUO fund student-directed programs that address issues that affect both students and all Oregonians, using methods such as: research; press conferences; letter writing drives; demonstrations; public forums; advocating to the City Council, Legislature, Congress, and corporations; and hiring professional staff to work to amplify and empower student voice both on and off-campus in places like Salem and Washington DC?