this is why student orgs shouldn’t have checking accounts…

@5:19am

You’re absolutely right. After all… there isn’t a single student org on campus that has used their funds to postively impact the campus and local community.

One student’s mistake should call into question the actions of the other 900 student organizations at UW.

embezzlement is a felony, and if HASA gets its funding from a federal grant, Moua committed a federal offense. arrest her and throw her in the hanoi hilton. guilty until proven innocent, just like in Hmongia.

We have financial frauds happening all over this country, so this should come as no surprise.

It is sad to hear that she would be willing to stoop so low as to steal from an organization that has done nothing but support her. I sure hope that HASA and the university will take this situation seriously and truly punish her for her deeds.

checks and balances, people. checks and balances. the other co-chairs failed to do this!

@8:52am

Do you know exactly how much time it would take the UW to question 900+ orgs?

“There isn’t a single student org on campus that has used their funds to positively impact the campus and local community”

Shame on you for such a statement. Do a little research and you’ll know that there are orgs on the UW that does help.

You mean, “guilty until proven innocent,” just like in Sawyer County, WI.

@ 12:24

I’m pretty sure 8:52 is being sarcastic in response to 5:19…

I know this girl and she is a really good person, she made one huge mistake and this shouldn’t define her for the rest of her life. She has done a lot of HASA and its members in the past. If you ask anybody from the student body you would get the same answer. It was a mistake and she put everything back. She even confessed in front of everyone, she’s pretty brave and strong to do that, many people would lie. But she came out and she took responsibility for her actions. Mai E. is a good person who just made one very big mistake.

it wasn’t really embezzlement if she returned the money.

“arrest her and throw her in the hanoi hilton. guilty until proven innocent, just like in Hmongia.”

and that comment was just plain racist. it’s ignorant individuals like you that need some proper schooling.

@ 12:24PM

You are an idiot. =) You obviously don’t understand what sarcasm is…and did you mean “there are orgs on the UW that DO help?”

hehehe

@11:05 She used the money and put the money back, stepped down as co-chair, made a public apology to all the non-active members of HASA who showed up bc they only like to come support drama, but not when there’s an actual event… she was publicly humiliated, she is a good person for owning up to her actions. Anyone could have made the same mistake. It’s not like she took the money and ran. Moua is a good person!

@12:24: I strongly suspect that 8:52 was being sarcastic.

Former HASA co-chair you must set good example for the older and younger generation to learn your role of leadership to support our people left behind in Thailand.

Former HASA co-chair you must set good example for the older and younger generation to learn your role of leadership to support our people left behind in Thailand.

All the other 3 co-chairs should be held responsible TOO!

Mai’s actions shouldn’t be a poor reflection of HASA or any other student org. Her actions were hers alone.

On that note, daaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn girl.

“arrest her and throw her in the hanoi hilton. guilty until proven innocent, just like in Hmongia.”

wow. and that comment was approved?

I think she’s covering up for someone…I don’t believe it. This is not like her.

We’ve moved up to embezzling money and white-collar crimes! I can hear the “Jefferson’s” theme song now… Moving on up, moving on up… This is something the Hmong community should be proud of!

Please do not make judgments or bash Ms. Moua or the other HASA co-chairs until the investigation by the Student Org Office is over. No one is informed right now and it would be best to just learn from this incident.

wow I am in shock…but I agree with 1:38, if anyone knows this girl she is a really good person and one action should not be taken this far. All I have to say is pray for her.

DAMMMMMMMN is right! What was she thinking???? BUT…MAI MOUA is a one of the most influential people on campus—especially in HASA, damn! This is a shock. I guess it happens to the best of us..wow, I love maimoua, but DAMN! Stop hatin’ people—-you’ve all made mistakes! At least she was honest, confessing to you all, that takes guts!

I’m fairly certain that this is a common occurance. Mai Moua was just the one that got caught.

“Former HASA co-chair you must set good example for the older and younger generation to learn your role of leadership to support our people left behind in Thailand.”

She did set a good example, she made a mistake and she took responsibility for it, what else do you want her to do?

How are we suppose to help people back in Thailand if we can’t even come together and help each other in the same country?

I agree, Ms. Moua’s action is not reflective of the whole HASA group, however know that all Hmong members will definitely be frowned upon. I understand that ONE individual does not represent a WHOLE, but we are ALL effected now by this, because it was blown out of proportion.

I do not know her personally, but what she did was something that was obviously wrong but coming out with it and making things right, makes her a good person. I was there when she confessed and my heart went out to her, she is sincere and you and I all know she is a good person and this was a very big mistake. She handled the personal attacks very well. If anyone knows her, knows she is fun loving girl. She’s genuine so stop the hate!

Everyone has made mistakes before, she just got caught.

according to the article she confessed herself, why shouldn’t we make judgments. and i do agree one person’s actions shouldn’t be put upon the org. or the other co-chairs. she was trusted and she betray that trust.

i don’t know her nor do care how good of a person she was, if she was SO GOOD she wouldn’t have done what she did, one mistake too many. putting the money back does not make it any better. the people who keeps using the “she’s a good person” excuse to defend her, guess you all didn’t know the real mai moua or she was a real good actress.

@ 1:49 sure, anyone can make that mistake, but they didn’t did they? she did. tells a lot about a person.

@ 1:38 “She even confessed in front of everyone, she’s pretty brave and strong to do that, many people would lie. But she came out and she took responsibility for her actions. Mai E. is a good person who just made one very big mistake.”

From what I’m hearing it took her a while to come out and be “brave” and “strong” and not “lie” to the members. She flat out lied to everyone on Friday, AND Sunday. She is not strong for taking the money, she lost herself and her morals by taking the money. She HAD to take “responsibility for her actions” because she was CAUGHT!!! If this issue wasn’t brought up so quickly, Moua would have left her position with money in her pockets…and no one will know..SINCE the other 3 co-chairs were clueless about her actions.

i agree: “All the other 3 co-chairs should be held responsible TOO!” checks and balances??

Moua is a good person. We’re not saying she’s bad. She just needs to punish for the crime she committed. She knew the risks she was taking when she took out the money. Once. Twice. She could have stopped, but she didn’t. She kept going. and going. and going. and going. Taking $100, and putting it back in is OKAY for people without ethics. But taking 1500..isn’t that too much? She knew what she was doing, and she got caught. She needs to own up to her embezzlement. And where was the 1500 going towards? A non-profit org? Now, even though she is a good person, her actions sure don’t show it.

This article is confusing and holds no legitimacy. Moua took the money, but they still need to “determine if it meets some of the guidelines that potentially put it at odds with being a registered student organization.” So, did she embezzle the 1500 like the title portrayed?

If Moua stepped down already and Gosselin said that these type of problems will be solved internally first, why is there a false article on this problem?

What’s the point of this article? Is Moua being punished? Did she really take the 1500? Did the other 3 co-chairs have a part in this? What is the point of this article? Besides the accusation that she embezzled money, which isn’t confirmed yet by MSC or CfLI.

Mai is a good person and she should not be judge because of this mistake. The future Co-chair should learn from this mistake and reform HASA. Please do not point fingers and blame it all on Mai. HASA needs to work together and have a better communication between the Co-chairs and the members. Thank you!!

What was missing here? Internal controls and segregation of duties. There should always be TWO people signing checks and another person approving them. Therefore, it will be harder for one person to commit this crime since all three would have to be involved. Checks and balances HASA!

WOW, as a former Co-chair I’m very disappointed in maimoua’s actions, but I’m even more disappointed in the actions of the student body. This situation was something that blew way out of proportion. Talk about helping people in Thailand, why not help or try to solve the issue at hand first before tapping into issues that are way over our heads. Where is the love? This is why the elders always say we don’t have a country.

We need to forgive and look forward to the future of HASA, Maimoua is actually one of those people who can really influence people to do good, for her to do this is a complete shock, but at least she is taking responsibility for her actions. So at least she admitted to it and EMBEZZLING consist of taking money without the intention of repaying, it said that SHE PUT MONEY BACK.

I would have to agree with 5:57, do not bash on Ms. Moua or HASA co-chairs, I know that all or most of the “anonymous” people here are HMONG so don’t be hating. We all need to fix this first and push forward BEFORE trying to help people in Thailand. If we can’t even help each other out here in the U.S what makes you think we’ll be able to help the Hmong over there? Think about it.

On top of that, this effects everyone, not just maimoua. If it’s Hmong related, it’s EVERYONE, not just one. So that’s why we need to work together.

we are in college, building professionalism and leadership for the future.

shameless. think before your actions. it’s common sense.

I hope she is punished for stealing from a student org. This is disgraceful.

What if she only came out, confessed to taking the money and returned the money only after she got caught or only after she felt somehow someone would find out about it sooner or later?

Think about it, what if she could get away without being discovered? Or what if, say, nobody will ever going to find out…would she then still admit to taking the money and return the money on her own voluntarily?

Just a couple of scenarios to think about.

It just seems like she only admitted to taking the money and then returned the money after she knew someone would most likely find out about it. To really be a good role model, one should never personally misuse an organization’s money, not even just one time…period. Hmong really are in need of great role models now more than ever before.

It is interesting how the student / writer of this article identifies the organization as “Hmong” first before as a “student organization.” I wonder what adjective the writer would use if it was a white student group, “Leader of UW White student group embezzles cash…”

A “Hmong Hunter” and “Hmong” Law Students…

I don’t see it as a mistake. Who wakes up one day and decides to steal money and say it was a mistake? No, she took it, end of story.

Yeah, I give her props for coming out and confessing, but she still did what she did. Just because she was an “influential” person on campus or she was a “good” person, does not make up for her actions.

Please, don’t bash the other co-chairs though. It is not their fault that they did not see this coming. They trusted this person and I’m sure they are just as disappointed as we all are.

They do need to learn a more effective way of handling money from now on though, so situations like this one would never happen again.

Lesson learn, HASA.

This has happened before in HASA, they just didn’t get caught and the money was put back. There’s been many incidences. Not only with HASA but with APAC that’s why we don’t have that anymore. Last year’s leaders for APAC always gave money away under the table. So do not be pointing at fingers when you all have been in the same boat.

Technically this is not embezzling because she did pay it back. And for those three individuals who want to hang maimoua, for them it’s getting all personal. Are you doing this for personal glory? or trying to teach maimoua a lesson, because if it was lesson then did it need to go this far? It just makes our Hmong people look bad.

I love mai e.! Stay strong!

Everyone makes mistakes! There is something called Forgiveness.

Peace

Anonymous (May 6, 2009 @ 8:34pm): <—- this person wants to hang maimoua.

Anonymous (May 6, 2009 @ 8:45pm):<—- I agree, there’s no point to this article. If SOO, MSC and CFLI are ‘handling’ this, then why all this bickering?

it all comes down to “maimoua is a good person, it was one mistake” vs. “hang maimoua, because she betrayed us”

I’m sorry, but anyone could have made that same mistake. Put yourself in that position. You’ll think you’ll never do it, and you probably won’t now because of how this came out, but I’m sure you all would be tempted. She’s human, and she made a mistake. I’m disappointed by her actions, but I’m biased.

For those three who want to hang her, stop with your personal agenda.

@8:06

yes, we’ve made mistakes, but we didn’t “borrow” a student org’s money for personal use.

i don’t get it, people are stating it as though she’s a good person for admitting it, she’s a good person for putting it back? you all are being bias. if you did not know the girl, you would think otherwise. i don’t know the girl, so to me it’s just another girl who choose to take out money, because she thought no one would ever know.

to the ones who talk about forgiveness and compassion, if someone stole money out of your account with out your knowledge (with the intent of paying it back, but haven’t), you would not have compassion.

it is WRONG to take anything that does not belong to you. if she was and is as good as you all claim, she would have never done that. if she needed money she could ask her parents, or if she didn’t have money to buy something she shouldn’t have bought it. with that in mind, what did she use all the money she took for?

i am hmong and i think the thief deserves her day in academic court, if not the legal courts. she should be punished to the harshest of degree.

it’s funny how people, somehow have sympathy for this girl. what about bernard madoff? or the whole list of people who have operated ponzi schemes. should we feel sympathy for the likes of those people? of course not. we shouldn’t treat this girl any different.

i think we should be even more critical of this girl for trying to steal at such a young age. at least madoff was stealing from mostly rich people who could afford to lose a penny or two. this former co-chair chose to steal money that was fundraised and donated to a non-profit organization to do good for people who needed help. shame on her. shame on her for disrespecting the people who worked so hard to earn this money to give to those who need it most.

Despite the fact that she has done “a lot” for the org. she still violate a very important rule. Her big mistake should also come with consequences. I dont care if it’s jail time or not, but it should not go unnotice. People like this needs to learn their lesson. If just looking at her as an individual, everybody must agree that she stole money for her own good. It’s b/c people are her personal friends or what not, they will support her and say it was alright. These people need to look at it from a perspective that she was irresponsible and needs to be seriously punishment.I hope Mai Moua gets what she deserves. What a embrassment to herself for not thinking broadly about the org. HASA.

I agree with 10:54:

“We need to forgive and look forward to the future of HASA, Maimoua is actually one of those people who can really influence people to do good, for her to do this is a complete shock, but at least she is taking responsibility for her actions. So at least she admitted to it and EMBEZZLING consist of taking money without the intention of repaying, it said that SHE PUT MONEY BACK.”

It’s not embezzling if you pay it back.

It does not matter if Mai Moua is a good person or not. The fact is that she did something wrong and apologizing, returning the money, and taking responsibility is only a start but this is a CRIME and hopefully she will get punished rather than a slap on the wrist. For her friends, defending her if this were someone you didn’t know, maybe from another SO, I’m pretty sure that you would feel the same way.

This case only brings up a larger issue that has already been pointed out. HASA’s leadership is faulty. They should have definitely been paying more attention. Hopefully they think long and hard to develop a better system because if there is no strict punishment for this case, who’s to say it won’t happen again in the future.

Stop arguing about what to do with her. She obviously has a large group of friends who are sympathetic towards her and supporting her and she now has a lot of enemies. She’s been shamed and has taken responsibility, so why are we still arguing about this?

I agree, why is always labeled “Hmong” this “Hmong” that..before it’s a “Hmong” person, it should be a “student”.

All the students at UW-Madison will be effected because you’re Hmong, Hmong people brought this upon themselves. They always do. You never know how to settle the issue, it always has to be an issue about coming on top and who comes out looking better.

This makes all Hmong people look bad, maimoua shamed us, but the student body and to those specific girls who tried to make it seem like they were the heroes.

I’m sorry but Hmong people deserve this. You say “shame on mai moua” but it’s more like shame on your community for dealing it in such a way. There’s no unity, always persecution.

It doesn’t matter if Mai Moua is a good person or not, whoever does know her doesn’t disagree that she’s not a cool, nice, and sweet girl but the fact of the matter is that what she did was wrong and she let a lot of people down. Not once, but many times. What’s happening is justifiable and like others have stated, its happened before, but she just got caught. I think the way this case/situation is being handled is inappropriate, it shouldn’t have got this far. Yes, she should be punished, but to be completely publicly humiliated has nothing to do with punishing her other than to let the world know that she’s a “bad” person, which isn’t necessarily true. What do you all have to gain from this? You should be ashamed of yourselves, and to the members who have taken it this far, a bit excessive don’t you think? To report it to the school newspaper, etc. 3rd party-that’s understandable, but this is extreme.

In this case, you will have to live with yourselves, and once you grow up a little you’ll know better, because the way this situation’s turning out is quite ridiculous. Kids can’t lead kids, grow up all of you, every single one of you, and know the implications and repercussions of all your actions, Mai E. Moua and the members who took it this far.

HASA/HHR should be looked down upon at this point because it is EVERY single active members responsibility to make sure that situations like this don’t occur and just because you “trusted” her 100%, not a single one of you decided to do weekly/bi-weekly finance check to make sure everything was in order. Well, that is extremely disappointing and should be put on EVERY single one of the “active” members, and I hope you all carry that with you.

Just because you “trusted” her, is the same sorry excuse for those who think Mai E. Moua shouldn’t be punished for being a “good” person. Because of these reasons, UW-Madison’s HASA organization is seen as such a big joke, completely segregated, no unity at all, and completely unorganized. I believe the whole organization as a whole should be reprimanded until issues are resolved, until then the Hmong students at the university need to learn what community and unity is.

5-8 years ago, nothing to this degree would’ve happened, because bi-weekly finance checks were done and board members and mentors took time out of their schedules to make sure the organization was headed in the right direction and if there were issues, it was handled internally then if necessary brought to a 3rd party, none of this public mockery of the guilty individual.

Hopefully nothing to this degree will ever occur again and to Mai E. Moua and every single member of these organizations, you should all be sorry and disappointed due to the extent at which this situation has occurred and got. Shame on all of you.

Hopefully Mai Moua will not go to jail for this. Hopefully she’ll just have this on her record, and no jail time. If she walks free, fine with me. If she doesn’t, fine with me. As long as this was brought up to a third party, HASA followed its regulations, the SOO regulations.

FYI: EMBEZZLEMENT -To take (money, for example) for one’s own use in violation of a trust. READ : http://en.allexperts.com/q/Criminal-Law-916/embezzlement-3.htm

I also don’t understand why the title said “UW HMONG GROUP EMBEZZLES CASH” …what?

also, at (May 7, 2009 @ 8:30am) with the mention of APAC. You need to do your research. APAC does not handle cash at all. Everything is on paper. This has happened before, they just didn’t get caught. WOW! So, hopefully this case will make people stop taking out money for personal use. OR, maybe SOO should investigate the WHOLE HASA org.

“And for those three individuals who want to hang maimoua, for them it’s getting all personal. Are you doing this for personal glory? or trying to teach maimoua a lesson, because if it was lesson then did it need to go this far? It just makes our Hmong people look bad.” What three individual? the 3 co-chairs? Funny how they were asking people not to bring this to SOO, but they released a statement to badgerherald.

“it just makes our Hmong people look bad” yea..hiding it will. and stealing money. a LOT of money. losing people’s respect and trust. the one to blame for making “our Hmong people look bad” is Mai. She made the biggest mistake ever, she not only is ruining her life but HASA’s reputation as a whole. SHE ruined our name each time she spent HASA’s money on herself.

She’s a good person. LOL. She got you good. I’m happy she has friends who doesn’t see her for who she really is. a THIEF.

“personal attacks?” sorry…wasn’t she the person in charge of FINANCES? so all the questions were directed towards her. If you believe she is being personally attacked, you need to stop taking it so personal. I’m sure Mai appreciates her friends who are supporting her. But you guys are showing everyone else that if she had gave you some money, you would have kept it. spent it. So, basically you’re just like her. Not thinking twice about what you’re doing, and how bad you’re ruining yourself.

Also, if people have done it in the past, why did YOU hide it? Hiding such a crime only means that you’re also a part of it.

Bill Clinton was a great president but he made one huge mistake and America still survived. Mai E. made one huge mistake, HASA will survive.

Hmong people just like drama. period.

I LOVE MAIMOUA! I don’t care what you people think, it’s over and done, get over it!

haha..this is why Hmong’s don’t have a country. Get your act together.

There is no love, y’all are ruthless! You need to be more merciful. Why did this even get into the hands of white people? should’ve just handled it on your own, but from all the Hmongs I’ve known y’all love making things big.

just another one to add to your list of ‘oops’

p.s mai e. is damn hot! I love you but definitely not what you did.

It’s happened and it HAS happened…all the people who want to take her down, you’re taking everyone with her. Because it’s just not her name, it’s HASA’s. It’s mine, it’s your’s…it’s everyone who’s a CHANG, XIONG, MOUA, VANG, YANG, LEE, HER, VUE, LO..etc.

this girl obviously has a TON of friends and definitely made her mark as a good person, but damn after this… I wish I was influential enough to commit a crime and then still have my group of posse support me. What’s her secret? Can I meet her? I’m single! hehe

ok, y’all need to stop think she made “a mistake” b/c she repeatedly took money since who knows (last yr).. Those are several mistakes, repeated over and over.. no lesson was learned.

this isn’t a damn race, “hmong” issue.. get over it. this is a deceit & theft act, and YOU CANNOT DO THIS IF YOU ARE A “LEADER” — ever.

She must have been a good actress. Damn, shoulda gotten an ocsar for this shit.

WELL SAID 1:23PM *claps hands.. and 1:28PM “She’s a good person. LOL. She got you good. I’m happy she has friends who doesn’t see her for who she really is. a THIEF.”

you are truly hating on her. you should try to alleviate the situation like person 1:23 not bring on more hate.

It’s not ‘hiding’ it, it’s called ‘resolving’ it like adults, not going to tattle and bring 3rd parties or the media because you just wanted to look good in front of your people and make yourself look better.

Yea, she made herself look bad, but look how HASA is handling it. This is bad. It should never have gotten this far, you only have yourselves to thank for making maimoua and HASA look bad.

kids kids kids…

“She made the biggest mistake ever, she not only is ruining her life but HASA’s reputation as a whole. SHE ruined our name each time she spent HASA’s money on herself.”

She didn’t ruin HASA’s name, she ruined her OWN name by taking the money, she is bad, but that doesn’t mean HASA has to carry it. The only reason why HASA is, is because of those 3 girls who took it this far. The situation could have been dealt with differently but NO, because some kids decided that it would best to let the whole world know what was going on. this is why it’s out there and the whole world knows. So Thank the three old facilitators for ruining HASA’s name.

“to the ones who talk about forgiveness and compassion, if someone stole money out of your account with out your knowledge (with the intent of paying it back, but haven’t), you would not have compassion.”

Didn’t it say that she DID pay it back and she did throughout the school year? So she did have the INTENTION of paying it back. And if something like this happened to me, someone takes money from me and then I find out it’s them and they put everything back. I WOULD have compassion! As long as the money is back, and the person learned their lesson, I wouldn’t press charges.

This is why there are people still suffering and being oppressed because there is NO COMPASSION. OMG and the comment about helping people in Thailand? Are you kidding me? Help those you can first in the U.S, baby steps…

If there’s no unity here, there for sure is no unity to come together to help those over there.

Grow up little people and see how this is effecting us as a whole, not just maimoua. It’s so stupid that it got this far. SHAME ON HASA for dealing with it in such a immature manner.

@ 1:09 pm “There’s no unity, always persecution.”

I, as a Hmong person, do not want to be unified behind that kind of behavior. Maybe the event didn’t have to be publicly broadcast in the newspaper but we can’t change that. Apologizing for her actions and taking responsibility doesn’t change the fact that she did it. Her actions reflect poorly on the entire Hmong community especially Hmong students at UW Madison. If being unified means that we have to let someone slide for stealing from their own people, than I definitely do not want to be a part of that community.

Anonymous (May 7, 2009 @ 11:51am) wrote that “It’s not embezzling if you pay it back.”

Haha, if only it was that simple. Along that same logic, it’s not vandalism if you erase the graffiti? It’s not theft if you return the item? It’s not assault if you take back the punch? It’s not murder if you……….you see how ludicrous that statement was? I hope so.

Embezzle, according to dictionary.com �verb (used with object), -zled, -zling. to appropriate fraudulently to one’s own use, as money or property entrusted to one’s care.

It mentions nothing about “paying it back”. She made a poor choice and now have to deal with the consequences.

she’s an idiot.

wow, mai is my new role model. before i borrow money from an org or institution or what ever, i will need to be influential, good, and have lots of friend. that way when i take the money and plan to pay it back when i’m 60, people will forgive me and i will have a bunch of people back me up. or if i get caught, i will just fess up and confess and cry so that it will make up for what i did. thanks mai, you are influential.

i’ve met and know mai. i thought she was a good person. i was shocked and surprised when i heard the news. her actions and what she did, totally makes me rethink who she is and questions what she claimed to have stood for.

to the people who stand up for her i am sure she appreciates your sincerity. but she tells people she is strong in her faith and is very conservative. i’m not catholic, but i’m sure they use the same bible as christianity where it tells you not to steal. therefore, in my eyes she is a hypocrite and a fake.

@ 1:23 pm “What do you all have to gain from this? You should be ashamed of yourselves, and to the members who have taken it this far, a bit excessive don’t you think? To report it to the school newspaper, etc. 3rd party-that’s understandable, but this is extreme.”

-The newspaper got a hold of this issue from the HASA newsletter that was sent with a letter to “Concern HASA members” indicating all the incidents leading up to going to a third party. I believe the HASA co-chairs wrote it themselves. THAT right there is already a statement to the media. Which is why this is now no longer CONFIDENTIAL with SOO. The statement that was attached in the email got into the hands of badgerherald, thus this is now printed and gone this extreme.

-I believe most people wanted to deal with this internally, but when everyone heard how much she took and realizes the severity of such a crime, this needed to be brought to the attention of SOO and HASA needed to follow regulations by filing a complaint to Mark.

Sadly, when the letter was sent to everyone, and somehow, magically, badgerherald got a hold of this AND that letter, it was printed on the newspaper.

“…it was handled internally then if necessary brought to a 3rd party, none of this public mockery of the guilty individual”

-There was no public mockery until now, when it is expose to the public. Everything was going to be dealt with SOO, confidentially and swiftly.

@ 1:09pm

“This makes all Hmong people look bad, maimoua shamed us, but the student body and to those specific girls who tried to make it seem like they were the heroes” -It’s a shame that you would label those girls heroes. If having people talk about them behind their back, making up lies, and hating on them can be deemed “self glory” or anything “heroic,” then you do not understand the whole picture.

This has nothing to do with self glory or being heroes. It’s doing what’s right and following SOO regulations that the student body did. Trust me, if it’s for self glory ask any of the girls who brought up this issue if there was anything to gain from it.

It’s a shame that people are not seeing the bigger picture. Whatever HASA chose to do when this issue was brought it, we will have to rebuild again. It’s sad that people are looking at this as those three girls having something against her. There was never any problem. It’s better to rebuild HASA with a fresh start, then to have this on everyone’s mind.

THINK ABOUT THIS…

…what if… Those three girls went straight to SOO, and they investigated and found her embezzling money? What then? Who’s going to be blame then? The girls? Mai? SOO?

The girls should have just gone straight to SOO regardless of the other HASA members who wants a say in this. Regardless of giving her a chance to explain herself. They should have gone to SOO that MONDAY after the Sunday auditing meeting.

Then the news would be even bigger. And blown out of proportion then.

…what if… Like everyone else, this goes unnoticed. the 1500+ was never returned? the new co-chairs are left with 700. We all let a “good person” who committed a crime walk away with thousands in her pocket. Her friend would still treat her the same. She would still be the same, just more rich.

Those of you who wishes to solve this internally, hiding this from SOO is taking part of the crime. You know what she did was wrong. You just won’t believe it.

If it was someone else, maybe someone of a different RACE, you all wouldn’t care. You all will be happy that she was punished for her crime, rather it is community service or being expel. You all wouldn’t care.

Yes, she’s human. Yes, it’s a human mistake. Sadly, we all live in America, and must follow regulations.

I agree. Shame on everyone. HASA/HHR. Co-chairs/reps/members. It is everyone’s fault for letting this happen thus far. If the co-chair checked up on Mai Moua. This wouldn’t have gone so far. If the co-chair explained to everyone that there is some financial problems, Mai is taking some money for personal use. We all could have dealt with this internally. BUT, when the co-chairs fail to do their job and the members finds out. It is now the members job to do what’s right—following regulations.

If the reps would speak up against their “friend” Mai Moua and stop being wussies, this wouldn’t have gone so far. If only these people that were put in leadership position took the initiative to ASK her when such question arises. This wouldn’t have gone so far.

It’s sad that the members had to take it upon themselves to brig up the issue. It’s sad that those that they put in the leadership role is not fulfilling their duties.

This was not just Mai’s fault, but also the 3 co-chair and reps who FAILED to communicate with her. Mai took the money, but everyone else refused to believe it. If the members didn’t speak up, HASA would still be the same..without a couple of thousand.

I kinda wish there wasn’t a HASA anymore. The student leaders sucks. There is not one person who is strong enough to hold HASA together, to promote HASA, and to speak on behalf of the Hmong student body.

I, as an individual, do not want some weak, fragile, little girls to speak for me. I can do it myself. If you can not even stand up for what you believe in, and are just taking smack behind everyone’s back..then you should not be in a leadership position. You need to step down before you make everyone at UW-Madison who is a Hmong student, or Hmong people as a whole look bad.

I vote for no more HASA. The student leaders this year lack so much that the next year will probably be the same. Always people with no leadership background. Why would I vote for someone who when asked a question, doesn’t even know how to answer it correctly on the spot? Why would I vote for anyone who takes things so personally. Please learn how to leave your emotions out when you’re a co-chair.

I wish the best for next year’s HASA, and hopefully you all won’t be making any stupid “mistake.”

HASA needs better communication. Stop throwing parties and start doing something more useful for the community. All of the co-chairs and members should be a shame. The past co-chairs set poor role models and examples that is why the ones right now are following their foot prints. ;(

throw Mai E. Moua in jail!throw Mai E. Moua in jail!

throw Mai E. Moua in JAIL!

isn’t Mai Moua that old a$$ senior that looks like a man with lipstick on? OMG—- she’s a thief! dang.. just NOT sneaky, but MANLY.

go to jail Mai Moua. and stay there until you repent.

Everyone needs to stop blaming one another. Let SOO deal with this. If she did not beak any rule, Mai will clear her name that way. If she did, we all will know.

yeah ok..ripping on her looks will definitely make you feel better. That’s really low.

Hmong people stop with the bickering and let it be, it’s been done. All these comments just makes Hmong people look even more stupid.

Shame on the whole HASA student body. You guys are making yourselves look bad. Hmong people. You really try to make yourself look “better” but in the end…you look worse.

OK, there’s definitely a lot of hate and anger — rightfully so because you, as members and Hmong alike, expect nothing short of honesty and true leadership. This semester, I took a leadership class & I’ve learned leadership is very hard to define b/c there are “good” and “bad” leaders. sometimes, one is preferred over the other for certain means to get accomplished.

Do you all, seriously all of you passive and active members, know how hard it is to be in a leadersip position? I can tell you from my experiences, being a HASA Rep, being on the HASA conference board, and establishing a student org- Being a leader has taken every ounce of energy I had when I wasn’t consumed with my classes. I wanted to help clarify miscommunications and work on the details/logistics of the org and its events all the time. I put myself, my heart out there, and that is a very scary thing b/c people will always criticize and say how it isn’t good enough. Yet, as a leader, I always had to believe in my vision for the org even though it seemed no one did.

With that said, I commend those who do take leadership positions to challenge yourselves. I hope that it has built you to become greater, more complex, articulate critical thinkers. To those who haven’t taken on a leadership position, I encourage and challenge you to, for professional and personal development.

So, instead of more insults, let this be a huge lesson to you all to better yourselves & help formulate your leadership ideals and skills. Step up to the plate to take on a leader position - small or big. We all have a responsibility to make our society better, to make HASA better and stronger. HASA and all Hmongs alike need you & everyone to be leaders.

Forgive but certainly not forget what has happened. Undraw lines with those who you’ve had arguments with over this ordeal, stop the anger and take that energy to improve HASA now.

wow, did not know she was church girl? did she ever say that? or preach that?

the only true heroes and real leaders in this whole mess, are the 3 former HHR facilitators. they stepped up to the plate and made things right. if it wasn’t for them, no one would know of this little incident. if they didn’t take drastic measures to push for a third party involvement, nothing would have happened. it�s all about retribution: you make a mistake, you pay for it. thank you girls. you know who you are.

As a former Hmong student at the UW, I find it sad and pathetic that she would resort to these actions. So much for “save the Hmong” and “I love my Hmong.” WTH did she use $ for? And apparently it’s been going on for awhile now, not just the $1500 they caught. Kudos to the people who brought it up to everyone’s attention, and shame on the other HASA co-chairs for being too personal and not taking care of business. There was obviously no accountability. Most of all, shame on Mai E. Moua for stealing money intended to go to a non-profit. If you need money, borrow, ask your parents, or do it the old-fashioned way…WORK and EARN it! This has tarnished the reputation of HASA, not that it had much of a rep left anyways. HASA needs to change instead of just focusing on throwing parties. Hopefully this will serve as a wake-up call. As for Moua’s character, I don’t give a rat’s @$$ how “good of a person” she is and all that. To the person who compared it to Clinton, this wasn’t about “personal life.” This involved student org money that she had no right to use for “personal” reasons. And if she wasn’t Hmong, a lot of her defenders here would be clamoring for justice. Uniting behind someone who stole money from the Hmong organization intended to benefit a non-profit and indirectly help out Hmong in Thailand/Laos is not something that I, and many other Hmong, want to unite behind. What a joke.

This article has information about what happened, but this ENTIRE article is based on a LETTER that was written by the co-chairs to the HASA members summarizing and informing them of what occurred at the meetings held in question of HASA’s finances. The reporter didn’t do his job of properly investigating for the story. People do like drama and all the negativity and that is why this article was published on the front page with a headline that is completely wrong. The “UW Hmong group” did not “embezzle cash.”

Whoever took it, just give it back. $1500 is hard-earn money from any student organization. BTW the money won’t get to doctor’s without borders either, considering the muddy politic factions in Thailand and Laos. Just keep it, go camping with it.

those 3 past HHR facilitators are no heroes for “stepping up to the plate and making things right.” the check that was supposed to be written out to the non-profit organization should have been taken care of at the end of last year and they did not follow through to make sure it was written out, sent out and received. they did stepped up because there was no reply or response about the check and wanted to investigate to see where it went. in the end, they stooped low enough to want to publicly humiliate someone. if anyone knew what happened, they would see that those “facilitators” did so because of PERSONAL reasons, not to make things right.

you all (including Badger Herald) need to have your facts straight before making anymore stupid comments.

Wow, everyone namecalling and saying their thoughts…only behind the curtain of anonymity. If you’re going to say those things, have the courage to stand behind your thoughts.

Funny how this problem had spun——LISTEN!!!!!

1. Mai E. Moua made a mistake and she must pay the consequences for it. Let the school decide if its embezzlement or not…let the school decide to what degree did she wronged HASA and HHR. To all her close friends who are all saying “well at least she put it back” or “BUT she’s a good person…bla bla bla,” it does not justify her actions at all. Mai herself knows that this is wrong. This is Mai E.’s mistake. She is to learn from this. So will everyone who makes mistakes okay???!!!!!! Gosh!

2. What the freak is up with the three facilitators doing this as their personal agenda? The ONLY reason why people see this as a “personal agenda” is because it came from three old facilitators who are to this day good friends i say but because it came from “a group of friends” it seems like they “plan” this out. Oh my gosh…to those who are so extreme in this view…yeah i’m sure they were planning to ruin Mai’s life on the day she took the co-chair title. F** it, they the facilitators just found out they’ve been robbed. HHR facilitators DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SIGNS CHECKS—ONLY HASA CHAIRS (IN THIS CASE ONLY MAI E. MOUA). they trusted her….so if ya’ll think this is a personal thingy between them three and her then it don’t make sense. Heck if it was personal, them three would have gone straight to SOO without telling no body.

but they didn’t…cause they were as shock as you were honey!!

1. this AIN’T NO HMONG THING okay! This is an individual issue where this specific person chose to make the mistake that she/he did. So don’t be saying “oh hmoob tsis hlub hmoob!” the one that don’t hlub hmoob is the one taking the 1500 straight from the hmoob shoo!

2. Badger must seriously consider how it puts out its headlines. Its discriminatory. “Hmong leader???” why couldn’t you just say “uw student leader embezzles” shows how far our world has gotten…(NOT FAR AT ALL)…and look here we are at a university where its SUPPOSE to respect and fairly treat people of color…without intentionally putting a name to it—a face to it…and geez what do you know…we got the badger herald (who is suppose to be respected and read by all faculty and students) wrongly writing articles whose titles have mere racist intentions.

3. HASA’s future is in the next leaders! I will not tolerate anymore “i think my leadership was like a “C” or a 3 out of 5” kind of crap anymore…i want new leaders who, by the end of the year, can CONFIDENTLY SAY IN FRONT OF A CROWD THAT THEY KNOW THEIR LEADERSHIP IS EITHER AN “A” OR a 9/10.

4. and people where are you morals???? —-you know mai did something wrong….don’t try to deny yourself. Even Mai knows she made a mistake…and she’s willing to suffer the consequences. Let her…so she and other people would stop thinking that its easy to steal from orgs.

Just throw Mai Moua aka “church girl” in jail. She’s a liar. She used the money for her personal use. It wasn’t like it was emergency, just for SHOPPING and useless materials. So NO, she should not be easily tolerated. Thanks to the AWESOME 3 girls. So forget Mai Moua. We ALL HOPE for justice.

To this person:

Anonymous (May 9, 2009 @ 3:27am): Funny how this problem had spun——LISTEN!!!!!

I agree with you. I think people are taking this way out of hand. Stop harassing Mai E. Moua AND the three facilitators.

Honestly, Mai knows her mistake. Every stop talking about it. HASA needs to work on itself now…let it! Cause fo sure they can throw huge parties to fundraise, PLUS, they offer new events each year, exciting conferences….HASA IS DA BOMB!

Lastly, to the facilitators, ya’ll did what ya’ll had to do. Thanks for coming to us first and asked us for our help, opinion, on what and how to handle the situation.—-forget what them haterz are saying about “personal agenda”—if its anyone, its them that’s taking this on a personal level. Its them that failed to realize that its OUR CO-CHAIR (SOMEONE WHO IS A LEADER, HAVE TRUST, KNOWLEDGE ) that STOLE. not a member, a student, not just anybody…this WAS a leader that stole. She has no chioce but to face up to it. Mai Moua is nice and friendly, but she made a mistake.

Anonymous (May 9, 2009 @ 2:38pm) Nicely put and I agree with everything you’ve said along with Anonymous (May 9, 2009 @ 3:27am

Stop bashing each other. Let the university handle it.

HASA and the rest of the Hmong community shouldn’t be bashed for what Moua did. Let’s let the university handle this issue instead of talking trash online.

awwwwwwwww pooor Mai E. !!!! I agree with 2:38 and 3:27. She knows what she did was wrong, she’s not in denial. Just ask her and she’ll tell you straight out. But for all you who think she’s going to be “lying” and “fake”. Then it’s really sad, bc this girl knows what she did was wrong and it’s not like she’s not going to take responsibility for it, all this bashing, calling her ugly and manly..wow, that’s really low. Stop the bashing and just let the university handle it.

We’re beginning to look really stupid in front of the whole university and all the other campuses as well. I’m so embarrassed by the student body, how and why did we let it get so out of hand? I know we’re all angry at Maimoua but look how stupid we look! This is so ridiculous! She is not the only one to blame, we have ourselves to blame.

To Pang Khang, Pa-Yiar and Mai Choua. didn’t she thank you? She even said sorry and she’s paying for all her ‘mistakes’ now. Shouldn’t it be enough for your ladies. Pa-Yiar even said, she took it personally that wed night. So it was pretty personal. You all took it personal. Why do you think there are so many comments on here?

Stop the hate, HASA is going to thrive on and become better, hopefully our friend will thrive on and become a better person too. It’s a lesson learned. Your view of HASA and Maimoua will change, but the only thing is to make it better and to improve it.

We love MAI E.! and she’ll become better, it’s a lesson learned! forgiveness, people!

it’s not ok…but we still love the girl. stay strong baby girl!

@ 5:57am

You shouldn’t be calling the three girls out. They did not release a personal statement for a reason, and badger herald did not write the two girls name that was mentioned in the HASA newsletter for a reason. Please respect their decision.

If you decide to call out them. Then please do so by calling out the WHOLE COUNCIL. The co-chairs, reps, and HHHR facilitators.

We all need to stop bashing people. Blaming one another. Whoever forwarded the HASA email to badgerherald made the wrong mistake. The whole point of the committee that was set up that Wednesday was to talk to SOO and to keep things confidential. However, the email was sent to members, someone forwarded it, and it got in the hands of badgerherald.

Also, I’m sure that if anyone has anything to say to these “three girls” that is being mentioned and now named, do yourself a favor and get some real facts before saying it’s all personal.

She thanked them? Yes she did. It was unnecessary. Please do not give those girls credits. It was the 63% that decided to take action with the facts given by the girls. There was no lie. No “manipulation.” Just FACTS.

If they gave HASA members a chance to have a say in this BIG decision, they shouldn’t be hated. I would hate them if they took it straight to SOO. Now…THAT is taking it out of proportion. Not thinking about THE WHOLE HASA. THAT would be their personal agenda: to ruin hasa’s name and mai moua. It didn’t happen that way. They let everyone talk about what to do and when the chairs were unwilling to take responsibility for the other co-chairs mistake by turning her into SOO, it was the members job.

I’m sorry to Mai’s friends. I’m sorry you have to take it so personal. I’m sorry if you don’t want her to be punish. I’m sorry that she made a mistake and now everyone is just blaming each other left and right.

Lastly, Let the school decide. Whatever they choose, HASA’s name will be clear and we all will have a new start next year.

@ 11:09pm

“You shouldn’t be calling the three girls out.”

Everyone already knows who they are and what they are like. The are the unnamed heroes that only know how to stir up the embers but don’t know how to calm the fire.

I would have to second what 5:57pm said and say that I too heard Pa-Yiar say she took it personal. There is no more need to provide evidence when all the facts are right there. If the former facilitators never took it personally then this information would have never leaked beyond the three of them. There would have never been the need to get everyone on their side by creating a now defunct facebook group nor would there be a need for exchanges of nasty name calling.

And lastly, this is a comment place. People have the right to state what is on their mind just as much as you do.

All I have to say to those who defend Mai Moua as a good person is that you all should realize that she DID embezzle money regardless that she put the money back. Besides, she might not have even put all the money back if she wasn’t caught and FORCED to put all of it back. I’m sorry but she is a bad person and deserves the consequence of a felony since it CLEARLY was not a mistake because she embezzled money over and over and over again from June 2008 up until she got caught. A mistake happens only once. And yes, the badger herald did make a mistake because she did not only embezzle the $1,500 that was the missing check but her embezzlement added up to over $6,000. Now THAT is horrible and thus it does make her a HORRIBLE person. If anything at all, she has shamed herself as a leader and have disappointed HASA.

@ 11:09pm

Amen to that.

No one said anything about taking it personal. I don’t remember the “3 girls” saying that it was personal at all. Them being former HHR facilitators who have worked so hard all year last year to donate to Doctor’s Without Borders to help the less fortunate Hmong refugees crisis in Thailand, it’s understandable why this would be frustrating for them. However, I do not consider that as a “personal” issue at all. It’s all on a “professional” level seeming how they were facilitators concerned about the donation money. I actually think it is all Mai’s friends who are taking this all too “personal” since they only defend her as a friend but do not looked at the “professional” issue and that is that Mai was a leader/co-chair who abused her powers and stole from HASA.

If anything at all, it is the three other co-chairs, Jerry, Birdy and Soon Chun who were trying to keep this “internal” and not go to SOO about it. If anything at all they were the ones taking this personal since they knew that they would also be blamed for lacking in check and balances and allowing this to not only happen once but over and over again. If I remember, Jerry even defended Mai as his friend and said that we should keep this internal. It’s sad considering all four HASA co-chairs are in quickstar…haha. That business scam. It’s also quite embarrassing that that little freshman Ma guy cried for Mai…haha. Yes, it was all these people who have taken things wayyyyy too personal.

To May 7, 2009 @ 1:09pm �I agree, why is always labeled “Hmong” this “Hmong” that..before it’s a “Hmong” person, it should be a “student”.

All the students at UW-Madison will be effected because you’re Hmong, Hmong people brought this upon themselves. They always do. You never know how to settle the issue, it always has to be an issue about coming on top and who comes out looking better.

This makes all Hmong people look bad, maimoua shamed us, but the student body and to those specific girls who tried to make it seem like they were the heroes.

I’m sorry but Hmong people deserve this. You say “shame on mai moua” but it’s more like shame on your community for dealing it in such a way. There’s no unity, always persecution.�

Your whole statement totally contradicts your first paragraph. Now you know why this issue was labeled �Hmong person� and not a �student� because it�s people like you who think that these kinds of issues are issues brought upon the Hmong student body by themselves. How can you say that the Hmong student body deserved this? I don�t understand where you get this concept of people trying to come on top and looking better. It makes no sense. It was clearly an issue of leader �embezzlement� and a student leader �stealing� from a student org. An issue of those in power abusing their authority. Why shame on our community for dealing with it in such a way? Bringing this issue up to SOO was the proper protocol. So how was it that people were trying to be heroes? If Mai did not steal in the first place, those you label �heroes� would not have to approach SOO or the HASA student body as a whole about the issue. I don�t know how else the �heroes� should have gone about solving this issue when clearly keeping it �internal� was not a choice. Also there WAS unity: 62% of HASA members voted on going to SOO about this, 33% wanted to keep it internal and 5% didn�t vote. So I don�t understand anything you�re saying since it makes no sense and there was no other way to go about solving this issue unless you could have come up with a better solution. Clearly, I don�t think you attended the Wednesday meeting since you don�t have any evidence to back up your opinions.

To: May 7, 2009 @ 1:23pm All I would like to say to you is that what you said is very inappropriate and na�ve because going through different sets of co-chairs including this year. It has only been this year�s co-chairs who have failed to be financially accountable. We have never had issues with the co-chairs in the past. It is those who have access to the bank accounts who are held responsible because they have failed to uphold what was stated in the HASA constitution. The most that the HASA members could do was request for financial reports in which this year�s co-chairs refused to give and have ignored those requests up until anyone did anything. I strongly disagree with what you said:

�UW-Madison’s HASA organization is seen as such a big joke, completely segregated, no unity at all, and completely unorganized. I believe the whole organization as a whole should be reprimanded until issues are resolved, until then the Hmong students at the university need to learn what community and unity is.�

It is immature and na�ve of you to look at the comments here to form your opinions of how the HASA members and students are handling this situation. There were several meetings conducted with members AND the co-chairs to address this issue before anything was decided, and when a decision was made, it was made with the majority of the HASA members agreement. If anything at all, HASA members have shown a great deal of unity throughout this issue and have been strong regardless of bashes made from people like you. Mind you that this issue has only happened this year and not with any past co-chairs so the student org as a whole should not be punished for an individual�s actions and that I hope everyone realizes that the members had been patient and tried all they could to consult with all the co-chairs, and it was only when the co-chairs kept brushing them off that they had to resort to public meetings in order to force the co-chairs to be financially accountable. I�m not sure how anyone else in their shoes would have dealt with this issue. They have shown a great deal of patience and professionalism with the co-chairs and when addressing this issue. Even after being brushed off so many times, they still took it upon themselves to address HASA as a WHOLE. I think those who care for HASA have done the best they could to improve it even if it meant exposing a leader as a thief.

To May 9, 2009 @ 5:57pm and May 10, 2009 @ 7:54pm I am not friends with Mai nor the facilitators but I have morals and do know between what�s right and what�s wrong. I don�t know why are you saying what you are. I attended all meetings and never once did I even hear Pa-Yiar say that she took this “personally.” Nor did the other two girls say anything. What exactly did she say again for you to think that she took this personally? Did she out right said she took this personally? If you say yes, then I know you would be lying. Did she call Mai a bitch? A theft? The most I remember her saying was that as Hmong people our parents have a lot of faith and expectations for us to help our families and our Hmong people and that Mai should not have taken the $1500 that was meant to help the Hmong refugees in Thailand. That to you may have sounded personal, but that is not taking it personally, it was her duty as a former facilitator to address the missing donation check that was meant to be donated to Doctor�s Without Borders. If anything at all, I think that was a good speech in that we need to realize that we are all Hmong people and we work so hard to help ourselves, our families and our Hmong people. We strive to be educated to advance all those. I think Pa-Yiar was extremely professional in asking questions and granted that they were straight to the point questions, I understand since they have been brushed off and lied to so many times. If you think she has made any “personal” attacks, what about all Mai�s friends who wanted to throw away their morals and protocol to save their “friend.” NOW THAT IS PERSONAL. Anyways, I think she was the only one who presented straight up facts stated in the HASA constitution AND SOO regulations. No one else did that. Also like May 10, 2009 @ 9:51pm said, it was Jerry, Birdy and Soon Chun who were defending Mai not as a co-chair but as their friend, and this one boy even cried for Mai. If anything at all, THEY took it way too personal. So I think that everyone should stop spreading rumors about any of the girls taking this personally because never once did they bash on her personally. As far as I�m concerned people like you two are probably Mai�s friends and just want to make other people look bad. You need to realized that would YOU have had the courage to address this issue if you found out that someone was stealing $6000+ from a student org that you�re a part of? It takes a lot to do what is right regardless of who Mai is, whether she is your friend or enemy. I do not think that the girls publicly humiliated her at all. If anyone attended the meetings, they should know that Mai lied to all of us repeatedly. So she shamed herself and humiliated herself with all her lies. She repeatedly said that she sent out the check and even said she sent it out way in June when the girls had asked her to send it out and that obviously was a lie. The co-chair even tried to deny that there was a debit card until they were confronted in front of everyone. So I hope all of you who are defending Mai and the co-chairs realize they all lied to our faces not once but every time there was a meeting. It�s also funny how their stories kept changing and how they claimed it was so hard to get bank statements from Associated Bank. Now we all know how easy that is to do COME ON! Anyways, for those of you who were at the meeting where Mai confessed, she specifically said that she took the money not because she needed it but because she could as in she had the authority to take the money so she did. Now that I have to say is unforgivable and deserves no compassion especially when she purposely used the money just because she knew she could.

@ 9:51pm

How can you even talk about not taking the situation personally when you, obviously, are making it personal for yourself?

“It’s sad considering all four HASA co-chairs are in quickstar…haha. That business scam.”

What the heck does that even have to do with this entire case? You obviously have some self-esteem issues and need to stop bashing people. Take a look at yourself and your flaws before you point out other people’s flaws.

@ May 10, 2009 @ 7:54pm

“I would have to second what 5:57pm said and say that I too heard Pa-Yiar say she took it personal.”

When did Pa-Yiar say that she took it personally? I don’t ever remember her saying that. I think I’m a pretty neutral person when it comes to this issue and what I see is a leader who abused her powers simply because she could and she even stated that she took the money just because she could when she resigned. But if I might have missed what Pa-Yiar said, what exactly did she say to make you think she took this “personally?” I don’t know why everyone thinks that these girls have a personal issue with Mai Moua. I think we’re all Hmong people here at the campus and if people have beef with anyone we all generally know. I don’t think Pa-Yiar ever stated that she took the issue personally, if I remember right she used documents like SOO guidelines and even the HASA constitution to back up why what Mai did was wrong, and so have the other girls. Never once did they call Mai a bad name or personally attacked her (not that I remember from the meetings.) But I do understand why people might think that they took it personally but seriously, since Mai was in charge of finances and since the other co-chairs claimed to have been clueless, of course it would only make sense to ask Mai a lot of questions and get straight to the point.

“There is no more need to provide evidence when all the facts are right there. If the former facilitators never took it personally then this information would have never leaked beyond the three of them. There would have never been the need to get everyone on their side by creating a now defunct facebook group nor would there be a need for exchanges of nasty name calling.”

I hope you know that this is unacceptable behavior from any leader. Mai took A LOT of money. $6,000 plus is not a little money. There was no way all of us could have covered up that much amount. Besides, if you paid attention at all during all the meetings, the three girls have repeatedly said that they’ve tried to contact Mai about the check and she repeadedly said that she sent the check but just lost the proof AND the thank you letter, and when they asked Mai for a bank statement that Doctor’s Without Border’s endorsed the check, Mai claimed that she was having issue with Associated Bank with printing out a bank statement, which is total bull as we now know. So seriously, the only reason why this “issue” leaked beyond them was because they were left with no choice since the co-chairs were unreasonable and refused to be held financially accountable with accurate financial documents. Besides sooner or later SOO would have found out because Badger Herald apparently got a hold of the “letter”.

All in all, the girls did not take this personally at all, it’s a matter of a leader who embezzled money.

Bottom line: It was not the girls who blew this out of proportion but it was whoever who forwarded the “letter” the co-chairs wrote to Badger Herald.

So stop playing the blame game. You’re all not helping the situation. Besides, if the girls would have wanted to take credit for all of this, they would have released a statement themselves to Badger herald. As far as I’m concerned the only ones giving them credit is not them but the co-chairs and all the haters out there who have stated their names in the letter and in your comments. Which is ironic because you have your own fault to blame for giving them credit for this situation and labeling them heroes in the first place. As far as I’m concerned they never acted like they wanted credit for any of this. It just makes sense that they were former facilitators concerned with a missing check. Who knows more about this check then them? DUH, it just makes sense since they have been trying to contact Mai and have been brushed off by her and the other co-chairs. Besides, I have never heard them publicly bashed Mai personally at all nor heard them state that this was a personal issue. If anything at all, it has been Mai�s friends who have bashed the girls, which is disappointing since they are too selfish to admit that their friend committed a crime and is too selfish because they�re too scared since now they think that this will reflect badly since they are Hmong. You should realize that if HASA members did not approach a 3rd party and someone else did instead, that is when the Hmong reputation would die since we would all be accomplices and at fault for trying to hide this. Seriously I don�t get those of you who are saying that this is being blown out of proportion and those of you who wanted to solve this internally because this is America and we can�t do things the Hmong way anymore and that is to solve this internally so that we won’t ruin the Hmong name. There are laws and regulations and when you violate them, you need to face the consequences. It’s basic law and order or should I say morals and ethnics.

@ 12:10am

Oh but they do have flaws.

1) As leaders they allowed another leader to repeatedly steal money, which added up to over 6000 dollars! It was their job to check up on Mai and look at the bank statements. Isn’t that why we have more than one co-chair so there is a check and balance?

2) As leaders they themselves gave them Cs and below grades for their leadership skills and admitted that HASA was not on their top priority so they themselves knew they were bad leaders and found HASA unimportant.

3) As leaders they lied to their members repeatedly at meetings when requested for accurate finances and they themselves did not even know the correct balance but gave a half assed estimated cost spread sheet that had a lot of missing money that wasn’t accounted for.

4) As leaders they did not take this matter seriously when approached and instead brushed it off and did not even bother to ask Mai about it from the beginning when the matter was first addressed, but instead had a power play ordeal situation at the first meeting in which no bank statements or proof of accurate finances were shown as requested a month prior to that meeting.

5) Even after finding out that Mai embezzled over 6000 dollars, Birdy, Soon Chun and Jerry still defended Mai as their friend and asked the HASA members to not go to a 3rd party and to hide this issue and keep it internal. They asked the members to compromise their morals and duty to hide this issue because Mai was their friend.

6) As leaders, they were given the chance to approach a 3rd party but refused so the members were forced to create a committee to approach SOO. HOWEVER, the ironic thing is that Jerry took the time to approach SOO before the committee went to SOO. INTERESTING….when given the chance the leaders refused but yet went behind the members’ back and approached SOO themselves….

So yes, they do have A LOT of flaws as leaders and although we all may have flaws too, as leaders, this is a HUGE flaw and HUGE consequences are in store for them.

what are you guys accomplishing by bashing each other online, ANONYMOUSLY?? Hmong people are pathetic. Get over yourself, stop using names and stop making it bigger.

Maimoua is not horrible and neither are those girls. The issue is being handled, maimoua is being held responsible. Stop making the issue bigger, stop with the hate remarks, Stop with the pointing fingers. Stop being so stupid.

White people are gonna read this and other student orgs are gonna read this, and look how stupid we all sound.

STUPID STUPID STUPID! SHAME ON YOURSELVES!

I like how everyone’s commenting with way more information than what the herald originally published. You guys are making their job too easy now. All they have to do is publish an article with the word Hmong and wait for the Hmong student body to come comment with more information. btw, it is pretty funny how this article has turned. Is all this hating just because people want to stand up for their friends and clear up each others names? It sure sounds like it. But yes, rip away at my comment too.

-CL

After reading the comments, wow…”name calling, bashing, they took this and she took that, she’s manly, she’s hot, friends and foes, consequences, losing face, laws and regulation”…what the hell, people…just think,

Hmong = embarrassment

You all look bad. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, not just this maimoua chick, but ALL OF YOU!

SERIOUSLY people whether this is a personal issue or not, that is besides the point and doesn’t matter anymore. Whether Mai put the money back…doesn’t matter.

What DOES matter is the fact that Mai STOLE so much money and clearly at the Wednesday meeting, she admitting to stealing more than $6000 AND she said she stole the money not because she needed it but because she was authorized to do so and was tempted to steal. THAT IS THE POINT!

I think everyone is missing that point and trying to make people look bad by saying they’re taking this personal. Personal or not, Mai did steal from a student organization, and as a leader, that is a crime and it is wrong.