I wholeheartedly disagree with the opinion put forth by staff writer Anne Buie concerning the effectiveness of SGA's newly-added UFO senate seats.

UFO stands for University Funded Organization. These are the only on-campus clubs or organizations that receive an annual appropriation directly from the university. As SGA provides the only opportunity for direct student input concerning the university's yearly budget, it makes perfect sense that these organizations be involved in the decision making process.

Ms. Buie is correct in proclaiming that the UFOs chosen to hold Senate seats already possess a great deal of influence on campus, but the important part to understand is that before the seats were created, these powerful clubs and organizations had very little to no influence over any of their budgetary matters from the university.

This was the reasoning behind opening new Senate seats for UFOs. I do not deny that other clubs and organizations deserve some sort of representation, as I co-sponsored legislation last semester that would have looked into the need and feasibility of a new branch of SGA, made up solely of clubs.

It is interesting how Ms. Buie views the 10 UFOs as important, influence-holding bodies, but at the same time is worried that these organizations will send "apathetic" people to serve as their representative.

I would encourage Ms. Buie to meet some of the representatives that have already been chosen before making such assumptions.

RHA Representative Nathan Bailey has been working on SGA matters since last semester, reaching out to several cabinet members before his duties officially began. In fact, RHA has made the senate seat a new position on its executive board, meaning RHA's senator will be voted on by all members of RHA.

The Appalachian Student Ambassadors have selected Jackie Greco to serve as their representative. Ms. Greco was awarded the Ambassador of the Semester award during the fall semester, in part for her work in facilitating cooperative activities between the Ambassadors and other groups on campus.

The Appalachian Popular Programming Society had two members who were so interested in serving in the new Senate position, they both approached SGA President Lauren Estes in an attempt to prove their worthiness.

In my opinion, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone within any of the 10 UFOs who could be labeled apathetic.

ACT members work tirelessly to provide services and volunteer work to the community of Boone and Greek organizations (which contain almost 15 percent of our entire student body), perform a myriad of philanthropic events in and around campus.

The Women's Center at Appalachian is the only all-volunteer women's center in the state of North Carolina.

You may decry the function or efficiency of adding UFO senate seats, but do not question the drive of the members that make up these organizations, Ms. Buie.

The 10 new senate seats are sure to increase representation around campus, not create a body of "apathetic people who don't truly serve a purpose," as Ms. Buie asserts. You may find an apathetic writer in The Appalachian office: one who seems unwilling to perform quality background research before sounding off to the entire university.

Finally, Ms. Buie believes SGA has rendered itself less effective - which is interesting, especially since SGA spent the entire fall semester fighting massive budget cuts and unheralded tuition increases all the while ensuring that Belk Library would remain open 24/5 during the most crucial time of the semester.

The notion that adding 10 organizations that "have plenty of influence and representation on campus" will hinder or retard the work of SGA is absurd.

Ms. Buie is assigned to monitor and report about SGA for The Appalachian and I commend her for keeping the student body up to date on matters that SGA can at times struggle to accomplish.

However, derogatory bashing of the 10 UFOs, their members and an idea that passed a school wide referendum with 84 percent - and is set to pass the desks of both Vice Chancellor Cindy Wallace and Chancellor Peacock - seems a bit apathetic.

I can assure Ms. Buie that these new Senate seats will be beneficial not only to SGA, but Appalachian State University as a whole and am proud to support these new senators as they transition into their new leadership roles.

Tommy Ratliff

SGA Director of Campus Outreach