To the Editor:
???In our last letter, we cleared up some facts around The Spectrum's assertions that legal precedent is on their side in this contract negotiation. This letter will serve to clear up the facts surrounding the decisions that SA has made on behalf of the students.
???First, the accusation The Spectrum has made that SA is in any way trying to censor them is refuted in its own by-laws. The by-laws state, "The editorial board alone shall have the power to create and implement the editorial policy to The Spectrum."
???SA has never and will never attempt to exact any editorial control over the content of The Spectrum. This is a fact that we have made clear with the editor in chief, however this fact was ignored to make the reporting of the situation more sensational.
???SA is simply asking for more STUDENT OVERSIGHT over the spending practices of The Spectrum. We are in no way asking for SA control. We see the need for further oversight because the students of this University have provided The Spectrum with its only equity capital for the past 23 years. On most boards of directors, equity capital is what decides seats on the board, and it is considered improper practice for anyone who receives a paycheck from the organization to have any voting seat.
[Letter edited with permission of Peter Grollitsch]
???In closing, we will address the petition that The Spectrum is currently gathering, that they have incorrectly asserted, "to amend the SA constitution". First, the petition has been presented under false pretenses to many students, and the leadership of The Spectrum has been unethically bribing students in their English course with bonus points for filling out the petition. This would be a surprise to us at SA; however, this has been in line with the many unethical practices that The Spectrum has used to try and strong-arm the SA E-board using their journalistic powers.
???The SA E-board will not be bullied into signing student money over to an organization that has clearly operated outside of its by-laws, and does not believe that any rules of ethics apply to it. The SA Senate has unanimously agreed to support us in this decision. It would not be responsible spending, and until the students are allowed proper oversight on the Board of Directors at The Spectrum, not a single dollar of student money will be transferred to the publication.
John Martin
SA Treasurer
jjmartin@buffalo.edu
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
