Students have expressed concern in this election cycle that fiscal needs may be not taken into consideration. Our incidental fee, already among the highest in the nation, continues to grow at an exponential rate. Research indicates that a simple cost-of-living increase is necessary for services to continue to function around campus. Students at the University of Oregon are providing massive subsidies to over-funded and under-used campus services.
Emma Kallaway and Getachew Kassa think increasing student fees and placing more burdens on students is appropriate, even as we struggle to pay back our existing loans and debts. These increases come under the guise of enhancing the student experience, increasing the amount of funding available to more than 100 student groups and promoting the formation of additional student groups.
We have an opportunity to say that enough is enough! Why should we add tasteless, boring and bland entrees to an already unsustainable budget? Students should be offered a menu of what they want, which includes efficient student groups, accountable budgeting and a lower incidental fee.
Former ASUO President Emily McLain, in a September 2007 interview with the New York Times, commented, “It seems that we have to have this separate calculator to figure out our whole cost of education … It seems just a little bit crazy.” This season, don’t just think about football tickets, campus safety and late night transportation – think about your wallet. A vote for Emma and Getachew is a vote for a bloated student incidental fee and more wasteful spending in the ASUO.
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Students need to think about their wallets when voting
Daily Emerald
April 11, 2009
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