After a denied appeal, a decision made out of “convenience” and an absence of communication between student leaders and the university, the former president of Tempe Devil’s advocate decided to go public.

Grant Skala is the former Tempe Executive Board Chair for Devils’ Advocates and an incoming senior studying political science and communications. He spoke out against the recent decisions made by intake services to have Devils’ Advocates become a branch under its office as opposed to a student-led club.

While the university published this new policy on 1 July this decision affected the former club before the start of the summer. Skala said he and several leaders of the Tempe Executive Board — elected by student members during the spring semester of the 2023-2024 school year — will not return to the organization in the fall.

A change in leadership

Leadership was shortened from 10 executive board members to four “student leadership positions,” according to Skala. Because of this, many members could not come back with a corresponding position.

Among the several positions eliminated will no longer be an event coordinator. The board previously held this position to preserve the organization’s community, according to Skala.

Scale said it During the spring semester, the board worked on changing its organization to fit the requirements of the fall semester. Throughout the semester and early summer, they reworked their constitution and filed an advisory dispensation to continue their work as a student club without being governed by admissions.

In late May, admissions representatives told Skala that the organization did not receive a waiver, and they would begin moving in a different direction from the board’s original proposal. Skala said he was the first person they told about the rejection.

“They explained exactly what it meant to Devils’ Advocates,” Skala said. “It was just me when they told me, and I was shocked. Obviously, I didn’t even know this was something they were considering.”

An email was sent to all Devils’ Advocates members on June 11 notifying them of the decision.

Devils’ Advocate’s future now lies within university admissions services. University staff arrived at the decision due to the absence of a faculty advisor, which since July 1 is required for all student clubs. Now the organization will function as a student profession, with scholarships for all members.

READ MORE: Devils’ Advocates turn to student employment following new club registration requirements

“Those who made this decision regarding Devil’s Advocates definitely could have found a different and better way to proceed as opposed to the new plan they put forth,” Skala said.

One of the admissions services leaders, Vice President Matt Lopez, said they would continue to try to find a way to work with the former executive board to realize the organization’s future if the board was receptive to admissions services limitations.

“I’m interested in having productive conversations,” Lopez said. “The only decision I have made is that we will continue in this new structure.”

Lopez said he had several conversations with leaders at ASU, such as student government leaders, faculty and potential advisors about the renewal criteria, in an effort to find a solution for the Devil’s advocate. He said the switch to intake services was the preferred option in the “few weeks” he was given.

“I wish I had more time,” Lopez said. “We didn’t. Everyone was surprised.”

Students are protesting the decision

On June 16, a letter of appeal was sent to Lopez of Skala and the members of the board to overturn the admissions services decision on a full scholarship program.

The primary objective of the letter was to reinstate the registered student organization to preserve its previous structure. It also proposed that Tempe’s board of directors have input into “the decision-making process regarding the future of our organization as a whole.”

The letter objected to the new leadership positions for students established by admissions services, the absence of a fellowship and the failure to communicate between the board and admissions services.

The appeal also requested information about the specific change in university policies that led to the transition. The letter states that “the proposed model was not the only plan presented to ASU leadership.”

There were over 100 signatures from students and student leaders in support of the appeal.

“We hope that you will be willing to continue this dialogue and work with us going forward to arrive at a solution that all parties feel comfortable and confident with, as we feel that the future of the Devils’ Advocates organization is at stake,” writing the letter. of appeal states. “The Devils’ Advocates have been the voice of ASU for the past 58 years. We are now asking for the opportunity to speak on behalf of our own organization.”

According to Skala, Lopez denied their appeal letter on July 12. But Lopez said he is still willing to continue talks with the former leaders to improve the organization.

“I couldn’t look Grant or anyone in the eye and say that having to find a faculty advisor every year would guarantee that Devils’ Advocates would be able to continue into the future,” Lopez said. “I couldn’t guarantee him that. What I can guarantee him is what we decided to do. I’ve made financial and structural commitments for Devils’ Advocates to exist for another 60 years.”

“A Bigger, bigger budget impact”

Lopez said he will continue to talk with student presidents and current student leaders to ensure the “critical pieces” of Devils’ Advocates can continue.

“When we talked last time, one of the realities of some of the decision-making was that we have to comply with some new rules around federal payroll and HR, and there’s now a bigger, bigger budget impact,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the scholarship program began a year ago when student leaders requested scholarships for those who devoted time to the organization. Given that the scholarships were not new, Lopez said he did not consider scholarships related to Skala and the former members’ criticism.

In the academic year 2023-24, only student leaders and selected members received compensation. Since the change, every member of Devills’ Advocates will receive a stipend.

However, Skala said he did not see a widespread push for all members of the Devils’ Advocates to receive a scholarship.

“Justifying this program for full employment by saying there was an overall massive movement of students to request financial support for tours is something I don’t think is accurate based on the conversations I’ve had with past student leaders,” Skala said.

Skala said the financial aid request was mostly to validate parking so students didn’t lose money parking on campus while making rides.

He also said that there may have been a couple of students who wanted to make money from tours, but former student leaders would not claim that was the main reason.

“For the vast majority of our student tour guides, both past and present, the opportunity to give tours and join the student body to bring in the club for what it was and what it offered was more beneficial to us than making money,” Skala said.

While the change is significant to student leaders at the Tempe campus, students from other campuses have different opinions.

Matthew Bird, an incoming sophomore studying public service and public policy and journalism at Downtown Phoenix campussaid the latest change doesn’t change much for Devils’ Advocates other than the absence of monthly meetings and other events.

“I don’t think the community is gone,” Bird said. “This is an organization with more than 60 years of history, and just because we’re going through this organizational change doesn’t necessarily mean we’re losing the things that made devil’s advocates ‘devils’ advocates.’

Bird also said the organization would benefit from being able to apply for the position online because it is more accessible. It could benefit students looking for an alternative to employment, which previously would not have been available without a senior position.

“I’m excited to see where the organization goes in the coming year and moving forward into the future after that,” Bird said.

Edited by Natalia Jarrett, Sophia Ramirez and Alysa Horton.

---

Reach the reporter at [email protected] and @George_Headley7 on X.

As The state press on Facebook and follow @statspress on X.

---

---