According to a letter sent to me by ASUA President Cade Bernsen, the Dean of Students office has dismissed the charges of sexual harassment. The time of receipt was 3:23 P.M. local time.

3-24-06

Dear Friends,

After months of living under the burden of false accusations, I am pleased to announce that the charges of sexual assault and indecent exposure against me have been dismissed by the Dean of Students.

As you may recall on November 29, 2005, I was confronted by a certain group of students who wanted me out of office and was informed that, if I did not resign as ASUA President within the next few hours, I would be publicly humiliated with charges of sexual assault and indecent exposure. I refused and was subsequently treated to the lurid spectacle in the Arizona Daily Wildcat that was repeated in other papers around the country. I was surprised and ashamed that our college newspaper would print a story with no adequate investigation and write the article as if the graphic and fabricated incidents were true. I am now requesting that these papers print that these accusations have been dismissed.

There were people who assumed my guilt. I was tried by rumor, hearsay, innuendo, and every other unfair way. When I said that I had heard of secret meetings as early as September, 2005, by individuals to plot my removal from office, I was ridiculed and told that the idea was preposterous. People in those meetings and some of my accusers denied that any meetings took place. As witnesses have come forward, these certain individuals have been forced to confess that there were indeed multiple meetings to plot my impeachment and embarrass me into resigning.

During the Christmas break after much prayer and consultation with family and friends, I made the decision to stay and fight these accusations. Regardless of my innocence or guilt, many thought I should resign to preserve the so-called status quo and avoid the inevitable pain that would accompany such an ordeal. They were wrong. I did not ask for or cause this situation to occur. I will not back down and I will not give up. When I took office I promised the students that I would be a warrior. While this is not the way I envisioned it, I believe I am keeping that promise. I will also be ever mindful of those who stood with me during the darkest days of this ordeal and those who scurried as soon as the going got tough.

I thank God, my family, friends, and all those who have expressed their support during this most difficult time. I also want to thank the many witnesses who came forward to speak out on my behalf despite being discouraged and even threatened. There were certainly people who wanted to sweep this situation under the rug and make it go away, but that is not going to happen. I am blessed that despite all the pain and agony these charges and their irresponsible publication has caused, an investigation has taken place and the charges have been dismissed.

David Cade Bernsen

Good Night and Good Luck