131 E. Broad St. #905
Athens, GA 30601-2876
706-548-2375

20 December 1999

Dear Kyle,

I attempted to send the attached letter to your email address registered with the UGA Directory (kwing@peachnet.campus.mci.net).  The email bounced back to me as undeliverable.  

Since your school address is not in the Directory either, I have sent it to your parents address.  Please update your school address and email on the UGA Directory service.

Regards,




Chris Hoofnagle
SGA Senator, School of Law
choof@arches.uga.edu

Enc. (2)



Dear Kyle,

Thank you for writing a little letter against me in Friday's paper.  I enjoyed reading it.  I'm not writing this email to criticize you, in fact, I encourage you to write more about SGA.

When criticized publicly, I respond to clarify factual errors.  I take yours in turn:

1. Mike made a brilliant move by motioning to censure Tom.  This only occurred after months of deliberation and delay of our projects.  As a result, we no longer have to deal with Tom and all of our projects are advancing.  In addition, we now get to choose our faculty advisor (something that Tom has opposed for some time).

2. Prior to Mike's announcement, the SGA exec agreed to censure Tom. All of the exec participated in that discussion...including Corey and Tricia.

3. Tricia didn't halt the motion.  Mike withdrew it.

4. Mike's proposals were not ludicrous.  In fact, they've been made by SGA many times before by people for whom Tom has respect.  Last year, Greg Skowronski advocated a weaker version of the same proposal (Tom opposed it).  Furthermore, SGA control of fees is standard fare at most universities (as is SGA control of judiciary).

5. I used to respect and admire Tom.  I held him in high regard, and thought of him as the father of student leadership here.  When I realized that he was not dealing with us on some issues in good faith, it really hurt my feelings.  I gave him another chance, thinking that maybe there was a misunderstanding, but it happened again and again. I encourage you to speak with some of the students who are trying to make change here, and they'll share with you some interesting accounts of irrational, illogical, and fallacious argument in support of institutional rigidity.

6. I can't be self?serving with the allocations proposal because: 1. I graduate in May from the School of Law. 2.  I am not an allocations member.  I'd argue that you are self?serving.  This column you wrote is sure to further ingratiate yourself with OVPSA, will show that you have internalized the norms of administrators, and ensure will that you get a seat at the table when new projects such as the judicial review committee arise.  My actions just piss off administrators and prevent me from being included in "Leadershape" and all that other bullshit that they call leadership.  It doesn't serve me...it sometimes harms me.

7. The University must comply with the First Amendment, regardless of their intent to regulate time, place, and manner.  


8. Many students have chalked the campus.  As a result, the administration is reconsidering the policy and will offer a compromise next semester. You may think our actions were stupid, but they have actuated a change in policy.

9. Our actions were disrespectful?  Disrespectful to whom?  Some education Ph.D.?  I'd argue that the administration disrespects students by treating them as children and by expecting them to just comply with every rule they pass without student input.  Is blatant violation of a policy not appropriate? What about civil disobedience?  

10. A federal circuit court has already ruled that chalk does not deface property.

11. Other people have come forward to take responsibility for the chalking.  One of them is the VP of the Law School.  Another is a chief officer of a large student organization.  The R&B chose not to cover their involvement.  

12. Chalking is a common mode of expression at elite campuses.  A clean campus is nice, but ideas are better.  

13. If news of the chalk ban were to reach other institutions, it would cause embarrassment to UGA.  I'm counting on that embarrassment to prevent the administration from enforcing the policy.  So far, they haven't tried to fine us...

I mean this sincerely, Kyle: Have you thought about trying to aim higher? There's no reason to spend your energy over at OVPSA. The people who run student affairs are not intellectual giants.  You are a smart guy, and you write well.  I like your columns.   Have you considered getting involved somewhere else where you could associate with real professors?  

Anyway, I'm in DC right now (death in family).  I'll be back soon.  Do you want to get together to talk more about these issues?  I'm sure Mike would like to hear more from you as well.

Regards,




Chris Hoofnagle

Cc: Mike Runnels