Since the word ‘appalled’ is being used quite often in the most recent PFC situations involving the Veterans and Family Student Association’s budget, I am not afraid to say I am personally appalled by Sen. Diego Hernandez’s commentary about the decision and direct criticism toward specific PFC members. I think I can speak on behalf of PFC when I say I don’t think there are any of us who didn’t want to recognize VFSA the way they should be recognized. I would be careful at calling people “selfish” for not wanting to grant them their entire request. I hope it is not forgotten that our duty while serving on PFC is to represent the entire student body (not just veterans and their families). Therefore, realizing that when working with the incidental fee that every single student pays on this campus, we have to consider how this is affecting other programs.
As for the remarks made at Steven Wilsey: Wilsey was a well-respected senator and PFC member. His arguments often had him perceived as the bad guy because he knew the numbers and process better than any of us. I respect him for staying consistent with his opinions and views throughout the process. Wilsey has helped PFC have one of the smoothest budget processes in years. To have Wilsey resign because of ignorance within the group should put PFC to shame.
As chairman, Jacob Brennan has every right to recall a group without first consulting the rest of the body given the time constraint of this process. Recalls being put on the agenda have nothing to do with our final decision, which is why all PFC members have a duty to show up to recalls and make their voices heard, and not complain about it later when they were not present.
I will not get into personal attacks because such should be talked about on a personal level, but in the defense and for the sake of Chairman Brennan, I have to remark that the comments made by Sen. Hernandez, “… a guy who during the budget hearings said racist, sexist and homophobic remarks during the budget process” [on Brennan] were not only immature but irrelevant to VFSA and their budget. These comments were completely absurd and very opinionated. If such comments were made during the process, I most certainly did not see Sen. Hernandez’s attempt to stop these remarks. And if I can recall correctly, I dare say Sen. Hernandez has shown amused reactions to a couple of instances when some comments made (not by Chairman Brennan) could have been questionable. Slightly hypocritical?
Mei Li Yu is vice-chair of the ASUO Programs Finance Committee