Most students have grown up in a media saturated society, and that means we’re all too used to being inundated by millions of dollars worth of advertising messages. While that’s one price of a market-driven economy, the consumer messages are often in ideological conflict with the democratic ideal.
Now the EMU Board is pondering injecting a monstrosity of advertising into the building designated for student speech and activity. Under consideration is a kiosk system billed as a benefit to students, but the board should reject the proposed kiosk because it’s an invasive use of advertising into an area designated for free expression.
The proposed system comes from a company called Campus Link and would offer students the use of computers and telephones that they could use to access their Duck Web and e-mail accounts in exchange for a good deal of advertising around the kiosk, which would inject roughly $5,000 a year into the EMU coffers. The contracts are available in either seven or 10 years in length, which makes it important to make the right decision from the very beginning.
The EMU, by design, plays an important role in the quality of student life. Its main function is to provide a location for students to congregate and discuss the important issues of the day. The ASUO, Student Senate and Club Sports all have offices in the structure and hundreds, if not thousands, of students gather daily to eat, commune, take a break or get some work done outside of class. This type of expression is vital to the civic, social and academic learning process that universities are designed to bestow upon their students. Such an important venue should be kept as free of commercial influence as possible. The EMU plays far too valuable a role in the campus community to start selling it off to the highest bidders and creating a cheapened mall for students-turned-consumers.
Besides those practical problems, another concern is the aesthetic effects of the Campus Link terminals. The machines are large, unbecoming and create high traffic areas. According to board member and ASUO Vice President Mitra Anoushiravani, the terminals are “ugly” and “hideous.” Not an overwhelming endorsement. The high-tech appearance of the terminals would disrupt the rustic aura of the EMU and alter the relaxed nature in the building.
The existence of available computers in the middle of a heavily trafficked area would at first seem a terrific idea because of the convenience it would offer. Having telephones and computer terminals handy seems beneficial.
But, as many know, those services are already provided in the student union building, and there’s rarely any significant waiting time involved in the computer lab. Therefore there is really not much need for the extra service of the proposed kiosk, and the insignificant amount of revenues to be generated.
Because there are so many concerns, ranging from practical to aesthetic to ideological, and the small benefit to students, the EMU Board should reject the Campus Link proposal and retain the important role of the student union.