Former Devils’ Advocates chief speaks out against recent decision

After a rejected appeal letter, a decision made out of “convenience” and a lack of communication between student leaders and the University, the former president of Tempe Devils’ Advocates decided to go public with the matter.

Grant Skala is the former president of the Tempe Devils’ Advocates executive board and a senior studying political science and communications. He has spoken out against recent decisions by admissions to make the Devils’ Advocates a branch of their office rather than a student-run club.

Although the university released the new policy on July 1, the decision impacted the old club before the summer began. Skala said he and several leaders on Tempe’s executive board — elected by student members during the spring semester of the 2023-24 school year — will not return to the organization in the fall.

Change of direction

According to Skala, the number of members of the executive committee was reduced from 10 to four “student leadership positions.” As a result, many members were unable to return with an equivalent position.

Among the many positions being eliminated, there will no longer be an events coordinator. That position was previously held by the executive committee in order to preserve the organization’s community, according to Skala.

Skala said that during the spring semester, the executive committee worked to modify its organization to fit the demands of the fall semester. Throughout the semester and early summer, they reworked their constitution and submitted an advisor exemption to continue their work as a student club without being run by admissions.

In late May, admissions representatives informed Skala that the organization had not been granted the exemption and that they would begin moving in a different direction than the executive committee had initially proposed. Skala said he was the first person they told about the rejection.

“They explained to me exactly what it meant for the Devils’ Advocates,” Skala said. “I was just one person when they told me the news and I was shocked. Obviously, I didn’t even know they were considering something like that.”

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

The future of the Devils’ Advocates now lies with the University’s admissions department. The University staff made this decision due to the lack of a faculty advisor, which, since July 1, has been mandatory for all student clubs. From now on, the organization will act as a student occupation, with a stipend for all members.

LEARN MORE: Devils’ Advocates turn to student employment amid new club registration requirements

“Those who made this decision regarding the Devil’s Advocates could certainly have found a different and better way to move forward than the new plan they proposed,” Skala said.

One of the heads of admissions services, assistant vice president Matt Lopez, said they would continue to try to find a way to work with the former executive board to realize the future of the organization if the board was receptive to the limitations of admissions services.

“I want to have productive discussions,” Lopez said. “The only decision I’ve made is that we’re going to continue our work in this new structure.”

Lopez said he has had numerous conversations with ASU leaders, such as student government leaders, faculty and potential advisers about renewal criteria, trying to find a solution for the Devils’ Advocates. He said switching to admissions services was the preferred alternative in the “few weeks” he was given.

“I wish we had more time,” Lopez said. “We didn’t have any. Everyone was caught off guard.”

Students protest decision

On June 16, an appeal letter was sent to Lopez by Skala and members of the executive committee to reverse the admissions services decision of a full scholarship program.

The letter’s main goal was to reinstate the registered student organization in order to preserve its previous structure. It also proposed that the Tempe Executive Board have a say in “the decision-making process regarding the future of our organization as a whole.”

The letter spoke out against the new student leadership positions introduced by admissions, the lack of community, and the failure of communication between the executive board and admissions.

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

More than 100 signatures from students and student leaders supported the appeal letter.

“We hope that you are willing to continue this dialogue and work with us to reach a solution that satisfies and inspires confidence in all parties, as we believe the future of the Devils’ Advocates organization is at stake,” the appeal letter states. “Devils’ Advocates has been the voice of the ASU for 58 years. We now request the opportunity to speak on behalf of our own organization.”

According to Skala, Lopez rejected their appeal letter on July 12. However, Lopez said he is still open to continuing conversations 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 to exist into the future,” Lopez said. “I couldn’t guarantee that. What I can guarantee is what we’ve decided to do. I’ve made financial and structural commitments to keep Devils’ Advocates around for another 60 years.”

“A “A bigger and more significant budgetary impact”

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

“When we talked last time, one of the realities of some of the decision-making is that we have to follow new rules around federal payroll and human resources, and now there is a growing budget impact,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the scholarship program began a year ago when student leaders asked for scholarships for those who volunteered time with the organization. Since the scholarships were not new, Lopez said he did not see the scholarships as tied to Skala and the criticism from former members.

During the 2023-24 school year, only student leaders and selected members received compensation. Since this change, each member of Devills’ Advocates will receive a stipend.

However, Skala said he has not seen widespread support for all Devils’ Advocates members to receive a stipend.

“Justifying this full employment program by saying that there was a mass movement of students asking for financial assistance for travel is something that I don’t think is accurate, based on conversations I’ve had with former student leaders,” Skala said.

Skala said the financial aid request was primarily about validating parking so students don’t waste money parking on campus when they take tours.

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

“For the vast majority of our student guides, past and present, the opportunity to give tours and join the student organization to experience 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 at other campuses have mixed opinions.

Matthew Bird, a sophomore studying public service and public policy and journalism at the downtown Phoenix campus, said the recent change doesn’t change much for the Devils’ Advocates, except for the lack of monthly meetings and other events.

“I don’t think the community is gone,” Bird said. “This is an organization that has over 60 years of history, and this organizational change doesn’t necessarily mean we’re losing the elements that made Devils’ Advocates ‘Devils’ Advocates.’”

Bird also said the organization would benefit from being able to apply for the job posting online because it is more accessible. This could benefit students who are looking for an alternative to employment that would not have been possible before without a management position.

“I look forward to seeing where the organization goes over the next year and moving forward into the future after that,” Bird said.

Edited by Natalia Jarrett, Sophia Ramirez and Alysa Horton.

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