‘Politics’ prevents ASG from accomplishing true purpose

I owe the Northwestern community an apology. Not because of my alleged comments — I know I have never made nor will ever make any decision based on race. I apologize for Michael Blake. He single-handedly turned the Associated Student Government Senate into a forum for personal vendetta and prejudices.

There were some student concerns when Blake lost his bid as ASG president and student services vice president that he had harmful tendencies toward drama and divisiveness.

There were proper venues for raising concerns about the senator selection process and as an ASG-insider he knows them well. Instead of raising his concerns in the appropriate forum, Blake waited until the end of the final announcement period at the end of the last senate meeting of the year, in a move that created the maximum possible level of divisiveness and drama.

Recently I conducted two Leadership Advisory Board events for more than 200 student group leaders. Time and time again these leaders complained about the “politics” behind ASG. I cannot promise to end bickering and vilifying statements, however I can promise that my committee and I will continue working for students.

Currently, we are involved in several reforms and projects within ASG and student groups. The first-ever New Student Week multicultural barbecue and increasing student group communication are far too important to let verbal assaults and vicious lies stop us from working hard on them.

I apologize to NU because I am part of an organization that does so much and has so much potential, yet can be turned into a circus by a misguided individual. As students you can rest assured ASG will continue working for your needs despite a negative few.

And no, I will not be stepping down.

Bryan Tolles

Weinberg sophomore

ASG executive vice president

Column remarks fall short of truth about res college

I am disappointed in Nick Disabato’s attack on Slivka Residential College in Wednesday’s Daily. Further, I am disappointed in his personal attack on Nancy Anderson, a dedicated and selfless administrator who single-handedly has made the residential college program at Northwestern so special. I find little, if any, validity in Diabato’s remarks, which come off as marginal, self-serving and mean-spirited.

Slivka’s Exec Board has made every effort to deal fairly with the situation described in the subject column. Having sat in on all of their discussions this year, I can state with some authority that the board has performed in an exemplary manner in every respect.

What makes Slivka so special is not really its new construction. Slivka is perhaps NU’s finest example of a group of students from all over the world living and learning together in an atmosphere of open and collegial discussion and debate. In fact, the atmosphere is encouraged and nurtured by an Exec Board, is similarly heterogeneous. I could not be more proud of the residents and student government of Slivka.

Allen Taflove

McCormick professor

Master, Slivka Residential College