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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Featured Galleries: April 24, 2007 SOU Student President candidate apologizes Letter Submissions Letters should be e-mailed in text-only format to [email protected] . Please include your address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached for confirmation. Letters are limited to 250 words. At Length submissions are limited to 400 words. Submissions may be edited for length, content and clarity. The Tidings gives priority to letters on local and regional topics of current interest. It seeks to encourage thoughtful, well-reasoned leters and to discourage personal attacks, repetitive messages and personal disputes. Form letters are not published in the Tidings, nor are letters identified as having been published in other publications. Dear friends, faculty, community members and students at Southern Oregon University, On April 19, I made a mistake that is now affecting my future education, my character and credibility. I have been at SOU for several years and was elected to student government in 2006. Ever since being elected into student government, I have done nothing but great things for SOU and higher education, not only in Oregon but in the nation. I have been to the state capitol to lobby legislators for issues like implementing the Shared Responsibility Model that recently passed in the Senate — because of students like me who are passionate about the issue. I have traveled to Washington, D.C. with other members of student government, as well as marched to the capital to defend the rights of students and to let the President of the United States know that his new budget will continue to de-fund higher education. I have been to numerous classes at school urging students to fill out postcards to send to our legislators. Although it seems as though, after all my hard work and dedication to this school, I have been torn apart by the media in this city and at a university I believed in. Talk about it I made a terrible mistake that cannot be erased, but it can be fixed. I took away from the pain and sorrow that real victims of this tragedy are going through. I made an impulsive action without thinking of who it would affect. I apologize to those who believed my fabricated story. Apparently, sorry is not enough for what I've done, but the media had to go as far as to leak information about my mental health and the incarceration of my parents. It saddens me to see that a city and paper like the Siskiyou would help tear down a person to gain an extra few readers. Although it is true that I stopped seeking medical attention and also went off my medication, there was still not a valid reason for the information to become public. To educate you on Bi-Polar Disorder is too complicated. Yes, everyone has free will, but if you suffer from this disorder and do not take your medication it becomes much harder and almost impossible to control your actions or make logical decisions. I admit what I did was wrong, but who are those that judge me that have never lied to someone or made a mistake in their life? No one is perfect, all we can do is confront the things that we have done wrong and then begin to move on. Do not think my acts were preconceived, I assure you they were not. For those of you that know me, I have always been known as a leader and have always represented SOU in the highest manner. I will be resigning from my Senate seat on student government and will be withdrawing from SOU to ensure this issue can be forgotten in a timely manner. Again I'm sorry, and I thank all of my friends and faculty members that know who I really am and are standing by me at all times. My sincerest apologies. Brandi Freeman Former candidate for SOU student president Current Comments: i think it takes a lot of courage to apologize as you have. christine - Talent - April 24th, 4:29 PM Sounds to me she may still be off her medication!! jjake - Ashland or - April 24th, 4:47 PM Sounds like she is more irritated that her "vivacious, ambitious, and attractive" reputation is not getting her off the hook and she must now take responsibility!! Nanci - Talent - April 24th, 5:06 PM Your 'bi-polar status' wasn't leaked to the media, you told a reporter. Fair game, unless you said otherwise. You went to Salem to lobby? Doesn't matter. Those postcards? Recycled by interns. Salem doesn't listen. Your credibility is gone. We have a fragile relationship with the state, which your actions have made worse. Now they won't believe us as easily when we make claims about the difficulty experienced by working students. The media is being KIND. National coverage would be worse. Angela Galvan - Ashland, OR - April 24th, 5:10 PM Brandi, you have sent us a mixed message. Blaming the media detracts from an apology which otherwise does you great credit. Would that others in Ashland could admit their mistakes as you have (or just not make them). You need your medication; so do they (like jerks like jjake)! Redirect your ambition to heal yourself; then return to help the rest of us. Best to you. Michael L. Hays - Ashland, Oregon - April 24th, 5:14 PM Blaming the newspapers to get more readers is no different than creating a horrible lie in an attempt to recieve more votes. I support your decision to withdraw from the senate as well as our university, which certaintly does not need this kind of negative attention from the media. SOU student - Ashland, OR - April 24th, 5:46 PM Bipolar my a--. Its time for Brandi to move on (leave town) as she is an embarrassment to SOU and its students. JD - Ashland, OR - April 24th, 6:40 PM While what she did was in poor taste, it was not illegal. She gained nothing monetarily, and lost more in honor and trust. While her motive for organizing the vigil was slanted, it did provide what it was meant to: a place for people to grieve and offer prayers. Please remember that these are young adults - and like many "full grown adults" they don't always make the best choices. She will remember her actions long after the community has moved on. Learn and go back to school at SOU. A Reader - Medford Oregon - April 24th, 7:46 PM Brandi: ***STOP APOLOGIZING/TALKING*** ***GET OUT OF THE MEDIA*** ***STOP EMBARRASSING THE UNIVERSITY*** Daily Tidings: ***STOP GIVING BRANDI A SPOTLIGHT*** SOLUTIONS - Ashland, OR - April 24th, 8:46 PM "It saddens me to see that a city and paper like the Siskiyou would help tear down a person to gain an extra few readers" Brandi, the Siskiyou informed students who didn't get to hear your lying and performance in person of something you did for which no one from SOU can be proud. I would like to see the circulation numbers for the next few weeks to see if readership experiences such a spike in volume as you claim. Where is your proof the Siskiyou gained readers? Amazed and Confused - Ashland, OR - April 24th, 8:48 PM Brandi, one more thing... I have read your comments four times now, but nowhere can I find a direct apology to the victims of V. Tech, nor to the family of the victim you claimed as your own. Brandi, its not the folks who fell victim to your disingenuous behavior, its the families and real victims to whom it should be directed. All I got was that your life was severly affected by this event. You would do better to not argue FOR YOUR life, and apologize for those whose lost theirs. Amazed and Confused - Ashland, OR - April 24th, 8:57 PM I appeal for some understanding for this young woman who, in spite of her Bi Polar disorder, has accomplished more than most young women at her age. I appeal to the Tidings for some sensitivity in how they report local news. Maybe there is a story that shows "SOU Compassionate" rather than "SOU Reeling". Linda Merryman ( [email protected] ) - ashland, or - April 24th, 10:12 PM I'm in sixth grade and my reaction to your so-called apology's first paragraph was that you are filled to the brim with arrogance. Boasting about all your "great" work that you did for SOU and "the nation" makes your apology almost useless. Please......more humility is in order to make an sincere apology.....thank you for the moral lessons you taught me with your poor choices.... noah ( [email protected] ) - Ashland - April 24th, 10:14 PM "I admit what I did was wrong" Brandi, would you have admitted it if you hadn't been caught? "I made a terrible mistake" The only mistake you're admitting to is not having a better cover story. What you're really saying is "I'm sorry I got caught." "I have been torn apart by the media in this city and at a university I believed in." You play the victim card way too much to ever be taken seriously. Thank goodness your political career ends now before you can do some real damage. Joe Camel - Ashland - April 24th, 10:16 PM 'Friends, faculty, community members and students at Southern Oregon University' Hate to say it, but where listed are the families of the victim(s) used in her failed vote getting ploy, who actually deserve the biggest apology? Amazed - Ashland, OR - April 24th, 11:15 PM Information about your parents' "incarceration" wasn't "leaked." YOU exploited such information (or misinformation--who could know at this point) to garner sympathy. Your "mental health" status, again, was not "leaked." Rather, you, again, attempted to exploit your claimed bi-polar disorder to excuse your repugnant conduct. Your use of the phrase "apparently, sorry is not enough for what I've done" is illustrative of just how solipsistic and clueless you still are. Go away. Stay away. tocs - phoenix, az - April 25th, 9:51 AM I doubt that Brandi is bi-polar, that is why I (and many others) can't accept this as a defense. Bi polar high/low cycles don't manifest as win-at-all-costs narcissism. People go on and on about how Brandi is a 'young person'. Brandi is 23 if I remember correctly. At what point do we start holding people accountable? This society's extended coddling of children and tendency to forgive stupidity rather than treat it is exactly what produces incidents like this one. Angela Galvan - Ashland, Oregon - April 25th, 11:55 AM Brandi would seem more sociopathic than anything. Since medical info can't be leaked, who will ever know? On a political note perhaps Brandi has a bright future indeed if we analyze leadership at the top. All she needs to do is lie more intelligently; otherwise she seems to have all the moves to make even Bush jealous: greed, narcissism and lack of empathy. Let's not forget though that mental illness is real without supposed free will. Who would want to be her deluded and trapped in a cage? E - Ashland, OR - April 25th, 1:06 PM Bush's popularity is at an all time low and the whole world knows he's a professional political liar (without the aid of Bi-polar). All this subconscious anger is now also directed toward poor Bambi, the sacrificial lamb. Her credentials, however, are impeccable. A heartless 'lioness' that would win at all costs; Excellent qualities for her future as: A) US President B) Donald Trump's "Apprentice" C) Rosie O'Donnell's replacement on the 'View'. salty - ashland - April 25th, 1:47 PM Thanks for the self-aggrandizing screed, containing too many sentences beginning with 'I'. This is not an apology really, it's an arrogant defense of indefensible behavior. Anyone who has ever lost a young family member should feel insulted by your vote-getting ploy. Shame on you, Brandi. kathleen - ashland - April 25th, 4:06 PM Brandi, Brandi, Brandi, Did they teach you anything in D.C.? You should NEVER complain about the Media! �It�s a vast rightwing conspiracy!� you really should have sought better council. Now you burnt yourself on both sides. So what college is interested in having a �Truthfully Challenged / Bi Polar woe is me student anyway?� Seems to me that the Young Man at V.T. had some Mental Issues Too. rraff - Ashland - April 25th, 4:16 PM Brandi, you're not a fine girl.Your arrogance is superseded only by your manipulativeness. Thank you for what you did because I fear what your blind nacrcissistic ambition may have lead to. Also, thank you for self-eliminating yourself from any law enforcement related job. Your twisted stories, blaming everyone and everything but yourself is a sign of a pathology that is an incurable trait inconsistent with public service. Herbal Haze - Ashland, - April 25th, 8:10 PM Brandi, you completely blew it girl. There are a few hard lessons in life that should have been learned in junior high school, of which you did not participate. So, this is what happens when your selfishness catches up with you and tends to ruin your day. You do bring a bad reputation to the table and it really should never of happened. By the way, no I am not being too hard on you, what you did is extra-special and you don't need to be cottled. You need to really get this. WHOA HORSEY - Ashland, OR - April 25th, 8:30 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us