Citing concerns over student input in the design process and a possible midyear increase in student tuition, ASUO President Ben Eckstein has postponed the referendum on the renovation of the EMU until spring term. However, the planned referendum on expanding the Student Recreation Center is still scheduled to occur Nov. 14-18.
“There are some major student concerns that have not been addressed,” Eckstein said.
He said he was not happy with the level of student input and participation in the design process of the new EMU building. A press release from the executive said that students should be in charge of design committees and that “key student centers” should be allotted space in the new building equal to or larger than their current accommodations.
An ASUO press release stated that “Student Affairs still refuses to agree to certain expectations set forth by the ASUO on behalf of various student groups.”
Eckstein said he was also concerned about the possibility of funding cuts from the state government, citing recent revenue forecasts that may require cuts to a variety of state programs and institutions, including the University. Eckstein said that cuts might be bad enough to necessitate midyear increases in tuition.
“Given the significance of the new fee, students have a right to know,” he said. “Students have the right to make an informed decision.”
Eckstein said that this was not a quick decision for him.
“It was a decision made after consultation with a number of student groups,” he said. “That consultation was not made overnight.”
Some were surprised at the decision.
“I had no knowledge ahead of time,” EMU Board Member Sen. Jeremy Hedlund said.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Jeremy+Hedlund+@@
EMU Board Chair and ASUO Sen. Kaitlyn Lange called the decision “inappropriate.”@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Kaitlyn+Lange@@
“I hope Ben is ready for someone to impeach him over this,” Lange said. “He’s taking away thousands of student voices.”
Among those unhappy with the decision was Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Holmes.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=Robin+Holmes@@
“I am disappointed that Ben has decided to not put the referendum about the student fee for the EMU on the (fall) ballot,” Holmes said in an email. “I think it is unfortunate that he feels this way, but he does.”
Nevertheless, “that does not change the fact that we are committed to doing what is best for students and for the campus,” she said. “We will continue to involve students in our design process as we go forward. This is a good project and an important building for the campus and students.”
Holmes said she understood concerns over student space in the new building, considering that “many of the groups that are concerned about losing space are groups that have felt disenfranchised in the past. There will be lots of back and forth and lots of need for compromise and tolerance for the unknown. That is the nature of these types of projects.”
Others working on the referendum are proceeding as usual.
“I am still doing everything I can to inform students about the referendum,” UO Outdoor Program Coordinator and referendum project head Daniel Geiger said.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=Daniel+Geiger@@ “I’m going to continue to work very hard.”