Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: Editorials

Media Credit: Paige Graham

The Muslim Student Association has been demanding a written apology from the ASCC, because the ASCC asked it to change its mission statement.

According to the ASCC, the MSA's original mission statement discriminated against non-Muslims. The MSA followed the ASCC request, but think it is unfair when other student clubs with similar mission statements did not have to.

Melinda Matsuda VP of student services also sent a letter to Nina Kiger and intended to be distributed to ASCC, saying that the terminology of inclusiveness should apply to all groups, and not just MSA.

It is the opinion of The Spectator that the cause of controversy was due to the inadequately prepared ASCC senate.

From the beginning the ASCC has been plagued with problems. ASCC got off to a slow start in part due to ASCC president Bernadette Richard's health problems and numerous vacancies in the senate and executive positions.

Dayne Nicholls who was the ASCC president last semester, returned to the senate as Student Trustee. The first meeting Nicholls attended was the same one in which the approval of the MSA was discussed.

Bringing the prior year's experience, Nicholls pointed out to other members that the mission statement could not imply exclusion. Since then other petitioning clubs like the Black Student Union have also had to change their mission statement.

What of other groups with exclusive mission statements? Nicholls said Wednesday that the ASCC has asked Curtis Ballard, Interclub Council chair and senator to check the mission statements of some other student clubs and make sure they are inclusive.

We whole heartily agree that this is the best route is assuring that other club mission statements are inclusive. It is sad that it took the objections of the MSA for the ASCC to correct itself, and review its policies. Hopefully something like this won't happen again.

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