Dear Editor,
I am once again writing a letter to the editor, this time in response to Ms. Corrina Jackson’s blatant misinterpretation of my original submission, Appalled by SGA (East Tennessean, Jan. 29) and the “entirely wrong assumptions” that I purportedly made. Did Ms. Jackson even READ my article?
I am not going to dignify Ms. Jackson with a personal attack as she did for me; rather, I will elaborate on my original correspondence and respond to some key areas of her rejoinder.
It does not surprise me, however, that she as a former member of the lackadaisical SGA would quickly come to its defense.
Let’s be serious – in reality, the SGA is a defunct organization that is in drastic need of restructuring.
It does not take a rocket scientist to determine what the SGA does – or more appropriately does NOT do – no “behind the scenes” involvement is necessary.
Any student on this campus could determine that for themselves.
I compel the East Tennessean to take a random sample of 10 percent of the student population. I guarantee the results would overwhelmingly corroborate that the students on this campus either do not know anything about the organization, do not know what its responsibilities are and/or do not think that the SGA is representing the student body as it should.
Per the constitution (which I did read Ms. Jackson, thank you!), it is a responsibility of the SGA to be on the university committees that you mentioned in order to appropriately represent its students.
In that regard the SGA does its job, but that in and of itself does not warrant recognition and was not a basis for my criticisms.
Most students on the campus of ETSU understand that the SGA sponsors many of the events you mentioned Ms. Jackson, however, the point of my “annoy[ing]” letter was for what the student body commonly refers to as a “major campus event.”
None of the events cited were “major” campus events. As a matter of fact, those events were not as big as some that were allocated for last year and attended by many.
Before you criticize my understanding of “how the [SGA] works,” maybe you should criticize your interpretation of my letter. And for future reference Ms. Jackson, please don’t make “assumptions” because you know what they say – and I am NOT a Democrat!
–Michael D. Hutton

Author