I love ASUO Executive elections. Every year it seems to come down to a debate about how to spend the incidental fee. Oddly enough, decisions about how much to charge students and money allocations are made by finance bodies, and then looked over by the Senate. Further, the I-fee can only grow by 7 percent per year. The executive only has the authority to veto the final budget.
What the executive does is create campaigns. It lobbies for your concerns around campus and at the state level. Emma and Getachew have stated that they would like to expand tax credits and thereby lower the economic burden on students. They have also pledged to expand course reserves at the library. Further, they plan to advocate for us at the state legislature.
I checked out Michelle and Ted’s Facebook page and did not find a platform point that specifically addresses fiscal issues other than saying that every student should have a voice. And I wholeheartedly agree with that.
But here’s what it comes down to: You pay $195 per term for the I-fee; that’s $585 per year. The I-fee can increase of a maximum $40.95 next year, given a maximum 7 percent increase. (There hasn’t been a 7 percent increase in ages.) If there’s a 10 percent chance that Emma and Getachew can save me $500 over the course of the year by expanding course reserves, using tax credits, or lobbying in Salem, then I would save $50 and be better off voting for them.
And I think that’s what I’m going to do. And then I’m taking my savings to Rennie’s. Bottoms up!