Dr. Peress,

In lieu of certain, current events, I feel that it is necessary to bring to your attention the ungarnished opinion of the Student Body. Not tainted by the ‘translation’ required and deemed necessary by so much political and insubordinate underlings as you see fit to grace us with, nor yet the opinion of those who never have and never will speak in the voice of the students. I offer to you the Truth, as horrid a reality as that may be, under none of the restraints posed by needing a recommendation from yourself for a place of employment.

I would, at first, like to address the issue of finance with the Student Life Office and the Student Activities Board, as it seems the most pressing and, indeed, some what the most immediate concern. What the students have seen, sir, is an article in the campus newspaper and a letter attached to it from the Director of Student Activities and University Development. The article, which may have been overly generous, attempted to explain how a large sum of students funds were, to put it mildly, mismanaged. This article, written by the editor, was placed primarily to explain and alleviate student fears and rumors. In essence its purpose was to prevent a massive, public outcry. It has only been partially successful which brings me to my first question. Why has the Administration remained so stoically silent on this issue? Their silence would indicate to a conscientious person, that they had something to hide. Is this so?

Furthermore, the letter, submitted to the student leaders and then the campus, seemed to indicate, at least a portion of Administration error in the creation of this deficit and yet not even an apology has been forth coming. The ominous silence from the Administration can only be seen as either a shifting of the blame to students, or a massive failure to communicate. Surely even PhDs must read.

On this issue I must speak frankly and express the honest, student opinion as a whole. As IT IS, not how I would wish it to be. The students want the head of the Director of Student Activities and Leadership Development on a plate. Figuratively speaking, of course. Any extending of this period of inaction will result in their desiring a greater sacrifice. Yes, even your position might be considered suspect.

I do not wish to intimate that these are my own opinions for they are not. My opinions, however, matter little more then those of the young Dutch lad using his index digit to hold back the might of the ocean. Unless this foundering dyke be shorn, there is no hope for it. None. I, and others, are willing to work towards a congenial solution and strive daily for it but it cannot be, as long as the Administration refuses to admit an inkling of guilt.

It is not as though there is no student responsibility, for I am adamantly of the opinion that, yes, there is that as well. Yet if there is any indication of how the students ought have tighter control over their own governance, this is it.

We, sir, are adults despite protest to the contrary, and are capable of bearing both responsibility and privilege, yet we require the same of our Administrators. I must plead, therefore, the case of the Student Body and pose, as always, their sacred position, not my own.

In the public interest, I am making a copy of this letter available to the Compass so that students might see and agree or disagree, as may be, with what I have transcribed. It is my sincerest hope that the Administration will at last respond favorably to his cause. If not, I will consider it my duty to lead the onslaught against the chains of slavery and injustice.

John Petkus

P. S. My apologies for the many errors but I beg as excuse the lateness of the hour and that my pen has not spell-check, nor a dictionary.

[WEBMASTER'S NOTE: Another postscript containing Mr. Petkus' phone number was not included on the website at the aforementioned's request.] 

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