Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Update: UWM SA back in office, figuring out what's next
The UWM Post is reporting that the UW-Milwaukee Student Association is back in its offices and putting the pieces back together. The UWM Police Dept. executed a search warrant yesterday and took two carts of files.
It looks as though SA is going to court and has obtained legal representaion. A quick search on CCAP has showed nothing yet in the system. I hope the SA has enough cash in their accounts and has access to it if they do decide to go to trial.
Warning: I'm getting really philosophical below. (Damn you Francis Carleton!)
Everyone understands that the Sandburg Halls Administrative Council has forked over its bank statements and other financials, because that is where the $10,000 check came from. UWM, and its students as well, have the right to seek bank statements, financial records and everything else that is paid for through student segregated fees and or user fees like the $35 each housing student pays to SHAC. However, the only people that realistically have the right to see the fundraising account is the donors themselves, and they hold SA responsible. Is it realistic? Abosolutely not.
I think that is the root of the problem. There is a difference of opinion on whether the administration should see fundraising statements for accounts not from student fee or state GPR. The student leadership says no; Santiago and Co. says yes.
Who is right? I think that will be determined by a judge, or a few judges, in a few different courts. Ultimately, the loser of all of it is the students. SA will be focused on saving themselves, instead of focusing on issues facing students. (Like tuition hikes proposed for the next biennium, or quality of life issues.) UWM administration, and System administration as well, will be in for the fight of their life as they have to defend their actions.
And we cannot confuse the two investigations that are taking place. The police have done nothing wrong. They are just investigating as law permits. The controversy is the UWM administration's investigation. I think people are confusing the two. After the fact though, I think the Journal Sentinel and everyone else in reporting news needed to do a better job of telling the difference.
{End incoherant rambling]
Labels: UW System
