(In response to Ariana Fox’s Monday letter to the editor, “Paying for PIRG.”)
Ms. Fox’s letter in Monday’s paper regarding USG President O’Kelly’s choice to veto the PIRG bill was inappropriate and unseemly.
Let me be clear: I support the establishment of a PIRG chapter at ASU 100%, and I absolutely disagree with USG President O’Kelly’s decision to veto the PIRG bill after it passed the USG Senate. PIRG is an invaluable asset to ASU students, and $1.50 is a reasonable and affordable price to guarantee PIRG’s continuing advocacy on behalf of students. I also feel that the State Press’s reporting on the PIRG issue has been less than neutral.
However, to resort to attacking the character of President O’Kelly is not only rude and inconsiderate, it also reflects poorly on those of us who have worked for months to help PIRG get established while keeping the discussion civil and in good taste.
Ms. Fox wrote, “[O’Kelly] needs to get over himself and lose the immature, arrogant and self-promoting attitude he’s chosen to take on. […] Let the ASU students decide if we want to give $1.50 to PIRG.”
I agree with Ms. Fox that it is essential that students be allowed to decide if they want to give $1.50 to PIRG via a campus-wide referendum, but I am disappointed that the dialogue has deteriorated to the point of childish character attacks. I hope for a return to the civility we have worked hard to keep throughout this entire process.
Joshua Judd
Undergraduate
