The power of an observant and opinionated editorialist was revealed last week, when a small letter to the editor on Feb. 7 evolved into a full-page apology on Feb. 28.

Many thanks go to Chris Rutan, who not only submitted an editorial, but confronted the AUSA Senate about the allocation of this year’s excess funds.

In the apology, the Senate assures us that “[our] voices are being heard.” That is reassuring, because the Senate should not be funding organizations that are not properly licensed, not student represented and questionable in how open they really are to “all students.”

The initial inadvertent diversion from the AUSA Senate bill covering allocations cost the student body $500 to support the college version of the GOP and $900 to the FOCUS. These two organizations have views and missions that limit who will benefit from how the money is used. Even if “everyone is invited,” the established purpose of both organizations does not naturally welcome stray members without ulterior motive.

The Senate made a sincere apology and promised to show immediate action by holding a forum last night to review the excess funds process. This apology cost you an additional $788.

Senate seems to have been awakened to an internal review problem that if addressed as proposed, will help Senate operate more effectively, consistently and more cheaply in the future. Power to the people, your voices are being heard.