Dear Editor,
In the October 31st edition of the Eagle, Eve Gatewood wrote, "Sometimes, even if one is right, fighting for the principle of something is not worth the cost. In the future any action taken to this magnitude should be the product of reflection and substantial thought." To that, I respond with, the cost of inaction often outweighs the cost of action. ÿ
If we learn nothing from Ladnergate and continue with the status quo of the Board of Trustees it will happen again.ÿ Those who do not learn from their mistakes repeat them. ÿ
Gatewood also comes up with a fictitious sum of money lost by removing Ladner.ÿ She argues that because we're $98 million away from completing the A new AU campaign that firing Ladner will "cost" us that much.ÿ Are you serious?ÿ No one will now donate to the campaign because Ladner is gone? ÿ
This is where you are fundamentally wrong.ÿ Fundamental change in how the Board of Trustees operates is necessary otherwise it will happen again.ÿ Who will donate to AU knowing that the money won't be used wisely?ÿ How will they know it won't go towards the absurd things that Ladner spent it on?
The only way the Board of Trustees can be changed is through an act of Congress which chartered the university in 1893.ÿ I ask you to lobby your representatives so that this university can fix the fundamental flaws that Eve Gatewood refuses to acknowledge need fixing.
Patrick McGill Member, Undergaduate Senate SPA, 2008
