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Leadership 2017 is peripheral

After being bashed by the Daily ("Vote Michigan Party: Rose, Mehta will provide strong leadership," 3/26/96) for not knowing about the administration's program Leadership 2011 (sic); I, representing the (Geoff Tudisco) and (Adam) Mesh slate for the Michigan Student Assembly, searched to find how accessible this information is to the students. The way the Daily made it to sound, was like it was the campaign's biggest issue and that the student body was actually greatly affected by it. First of all, I ask you as a student, do you know what it is?

Secondly, I went and called the MSA office, the Student Council Office, Student Affairs, the University Public Affairs office and the Assistant Dean's office, and was told by all offices that no one knew about this program. If this is such a big issue, why can't I find out about it? I am a student at this University aren't I?

I'll tell you why. The administration's program has not be advertised to us students. Rather, it is a program that has been advertised to the elected officials to join. It is not an issue. But when interviewed by the Daily it was the first question asked to (Tudisco) and Mesh. They didn't ask why they were running, nor did they ask what is the biggest concern for students as they saw it. Rather, it was asked to them, because they knew there was no possible way they could answer it.

The Daily has misrepresented this campaign in many ways. They have lost their objectivity, and in my opinion have tilted the election. I find nothing wrong with them voicing their opinion, but misrepresentation is another thing. The student body should be able to know what this election is about. They should know what are the real issues. The students should and must be informed by the Daily. Misrepresentation has a fine line, and the Daily in my opinion has crossed it.

Today, you will have a chance to change things. The issues as well as information must trickle down to the students. That is what (Tudisco) and Mesh want. Ironically it seems to me that neither the University, the MSA, or the Daily want this.

RAFAEL ARRILLAGA

LSA JUNIOR