Students will have the chance today to talk about whether they
should increase the fee they pay toward the campus’
undergraduate student government.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council will hold a
debate forum to explain directly to students the language and
rationale for a proposed $9.25 quarterly increase to the existing
$24.09 it collects from them.
“I hope students become aware of where their money
goes,” said T.J. Cordero, USAC internal vice president.
“(Council) is in dire need of funding, whether or not
students agree on the avenue it gets it from.”
Most councilmembers agree that USAC is in need of increased
funding, since a shortage in programming funds decreased financial
support toward many of the university’s numerous student
groups.
Council usually operates on an annual programming budget of
roughly $130,000, but lost $30,000 due to increased overhead
costs.
The proposed $9.25 increase would go toward the campus
activities committee, a USAC programming fund, a general
programming fund and five council offices.
“I’d like to see it passed,” said Campus
Events Commissioner Ryan Wilson, whose office would receive an
exclusive allocation if the referendum passes.
The campus events commission has not received a funding increase
since 1985, Wilson continued.
Academic Affairs Commissioner Chris Diaz said students should
not be afraid to question the reasoning behind the referendum.
He added that there has not been enough consideration of
possible opposing arguments, and if the fee increase is a short of
long-term solution to council’s funding woes.
“We’re banking on this referendum without discussing
it thoroughly,” Diaz said.
The academic affairs commission was originally slated to receive
an exclusive allocation from the referendum, but Diaz pulled out
because of what he considered to be the item’s lack of
flexibility in distributing the additional funds.
Both Cordero and Diaz acknowledged that most of council’s
focus has prioritized getting the referendum passed over fully
addressing some of its flaws.
President David Dahle, who has helped spearhead the item, said
this referendum underwent the most extensive preparation in recent
memory and is confident of its benefit to students.
A similar referendum was up for online election in spring, but
did not meet the minimum voter turnout required to pass.
Dahle said right now there is no backup plan if the referendum
does not pass.
“We’re just taking it one day at a time,” he
said.
Wilson said council will need to dramatically step up its
efforts to get the word out to students, to ensure its passage.
“I’m not convinced at all this is a sure
thing,” he said.
USAC will hold its forum in Franz Hall 1260 today at 6 p.m.