Every year during campus elections, candidates talk about wanting to represent the will of students. Unfortunately, there are only so many chances for the ASUO to engage the student body and find out what most students think about the most pressing issues we face.
That’s why this year the ASUO Executive submitted questions directly to students.
When you go to DuckWeb to vote this week, you will have a chance to say whether you support the University’s plan to split from the state and invest taxpayer dollars in undisclosed corporations. This plan is one of many across the country that will slowly privatize public universities.
Students should be concerned about the long-term implications of this plan, and we want to send a message that our university should remain public.
Other challenges students have faced this year are equally daunting. The University wishes to make our Department of Public Safety a sworn police force with the later opportunity to carry guns and Tasers. I remain unconvinced that this will make our campus any safer. It will, however, cost a lot of money at a time when class sizes are growing and professors are underpaid.
Our community also recently lost a United States Post Office, which will soon be replaced by a private mail service. It was a disheartening step toward a further privatization of this campus, and we want to take this opportunity to loudly express our support for a public post office.
Please join me in voting yes for a public university, a weapons-free campus and a public post office. And please vote for candidates who feel the same way.
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