Letter
to the editor
A.S.I. senator questions rec. center
reasons
Nov.
18, I had my birthday. I reserved that day
so I could go to a museum and relax from
work, politics, school and business. But
all day my mind was lingering on a conversation
I had with one of the University Student
Union administrators who is pushing for
students to vote for a fee increase for
a recreation center.
One
of the many things I asked him was why hasn’t
the committee tried alternative means of
funding for this project. If it does benefit
a certain population of students as they
say it does, then maybe we could use the
non-profit status of the union to either
pay for or match a grant. This would be
so that each student won’t be stuck voting
to raise the cost of a four-year degree,
an additional $750.
Imagine
my surprise when he said that the people
in charge didn’t even try to look for other
ways to fund it. They just assumed that
students should pay for it.
My
opinion is if it’ll cost the students $72
million for 30 years, they better be damn
sure that all avenues of funding are exhausted.
As
a senator, I never hid the fact that I’m
in no support of any fee increase. I think
it deters students from reaching higher
education, especially those who work for
their degree. I can see the idea of a recreation
center. But at what cost?
Since
it’s not necessary for education, I definitely
think it should be a choice. If people want
to spend close to $200 a year — $75 a semester,
$20 for parking, $65 for summer — for using
a gym, then do so. Don’t force everybody
else to do the same.
That
is exactly what the fee increase is going
to do. Whether you use it or not, whether
you’re here full time or just to take one
class, even if you graduate before its constructed,
we all are going to pay.
As
a student, I’m fed up with fee increases.
I can understand if it was about education,
I can tolerate it. But for things such as
a recreation center?
When
is it going to end? And guess what, the
same referendum is going to require yet
another increase in 2006!
I’d like to encourage students to
actually read and calculate the figures.
Think of the students who can’t afford any
more increases when you vote, and send a
message to the administration to make education
affordable and stop using students as cash
cows.
—
Segundo Pangan
Senator for the College of the Arts
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