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Show Monday, March 9, 2009 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE CAMPUS DEBATE Sustainability fee would Initiative's purpose unclear be a worthy investment and lacks student support A W couple of months ago I was approached by students supporting the Sustainable Campus Initiative. These concerned students discussed what the SCI wanted to accomplish and its longterm goals. I signed a petition and have since received numerous e-mails detailing the purpose of the initiative. From what I have read, the initiative has been thought out by many students, faculty and staff at the U. Last week, as a member of the Associated Students of the University of Utah Assembly, I strongly supported the initiative and the $2.50 increase to student fees that would help fund it. Justainability is not a fad; it is a real solution to problems plaguing our campus. My support of this bill came from my own beliefs and e-mails I received from students in the College of Humanities who were also in support of the bill. I never once received an e-mail opposing the SCI. Since this initiative passed in the ASUU Assembly and the Senate, I have been shocked by the negative publicity demonstrated by The Daily Utah Chronicle and its misinformed readers. The initiative has been well researched and is poised to have a positive impact on the U. Sustainability is not a fad; it is a real solution to problems plaguing our campus regarding energy. This initiative is meant to improve our campus for years to come, not until it is no longer trendy. In fact, many of the best universities in the country have passed initiatives similar to the SCI. If not properly funded, the sustainability efforts of the initiative will almost certainly fail. Many feel they cannot afford a $2.50 in- e are in favor of the U becoming a more sustainable campus. We support appropriate measures that will KASI help limit our impact on the G O O D W I N environment. However, the proposed Sustainable Campus Initiative, which includes an increase in student fees, is not the best way for us to accomplish this goal. Although the initiative has good intentions, it is ill-advised and inappropriate. The first issue is clarity. The language of the SCI fails to clarify the exact usage of collected funds. The ambiguity of the use of funds as articulated in this bill is the equivalent of writing a blank check, funded by mandatory student fees, for any number of unknown projects. This opens up a dangerous precedent. Another issue is timing. We are already facing a 9 percent tuition increase next year. In a time of economic recession, it isn't appropriate to increase fees beyond those already established for existing programs and resources, particularly without explicit direction for the use of those funds. The U already has both an Office of Sustainability and an Associated Students of the University of Utah Board of Sustainability. With these organizations already devoted to sustainability, there is no need to create an additional group to run the SCI. Both organizations have budgets that could be partially diverted to projects fitting the SCI's vision. There is $319,000 in the ASUU general reserve. We don't see justification for raising fees when there is already so much money not being utilized. If the Sustainability Board needs more money to fund this project and the ASUU administration is so supportive of it, then they should first look at reallocating the money it already has. The SCI references several schools that have CASEY ELLIOT crease. However, we cannot afford to ignore this issue. This country, not just our university and state, is taking drastic measures regarding energy. For example, last year, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. mandated that all state agencies begin a four-day, 10-hour work week. I work part-time for a state agency, and this action was initially considered to be radical, but state employees are embracing the change. Now, many other states are considering the same action to reduce energy costs. vs. have received numerous e-mails detailing the purpose of the initiative. From what I have read, the initiative has been thought out by many students, faculty and staff at the U. The SCI is a worthwhile investment that can produce great rewards, if we all support it. Please take the time to read over the proposal, fully grasp what this initiative is capable of and ignore the propaganda. letters@chronicle.utah.edu Editor's Note—Casey Elliot is vice president of the U College Democrats. Who are you voting for in the ASUU elections? VJ1£L Editor's Note—Ali Amundsen represents the College of Health in the ASUU Senate. Kasi Goodwin represents the College of Science. Which party will you vote for in the final ASUU elections? i /iJij. 47votes I I, -, •. nm 30 votes I'm not going to vote^|K" 4 votes instituted effective programs similar to the proposed initiative. However, the programs in the majority of those schools were passed by referendum to ensure wide support by the students. The ASUU administration said a referendum would be against the ASUU Constitution. Yet Redbook not only allows for a general referendum, but clearly recommends "a general referendum of the student body on changes in the student activity fees" (Article IV, Section 2, Paragraph 1). Proponents of the SCI tout small-scale surveys and petitions as evidence of broad student support for the principles behind the initiative. If those in favor of the bill are so confident of student support, we question why they're so reluctant to allow the students to decide their own fee increases. We see the advantages of bringing more / v student involvement to sustainability on cam-?,- i pus. However, it would be irresponsible to ask ' ' students to commit their personal financial resources to an initiative that does not have any defined projects and didn't accurately gauge student support. />-v'= We support efforts toward sustainability, but we feel that students deserve the opportunity to decide whether or not they want their fees increased and to know exactly where that money will go. letters@chronicle.utah.edu GO Party ^M Undecided AMUNDSEN This week's online poll Online poll results li ALI Revolution Party / 69 votes W P » ^ mm 38% Undecided 'm not goihgto vote / Synergy Party ^ | 26 votes* "t -CAMPUS VOICES 1 . • • • • • • . - ^/ Daniel Scharenbroich Kylie West Sophomore, Exercise Physiology . . - . „ • /. Are you happy with the results of the ASUU primary elections? Vote online at www.dailyutahchronicle.com Yes, however, I believe all the groups deserve it. Trask Verbos reshmant Architecture Freshman, Exercise Physiology Yes, because the primary is a pre-game to the real deal. Yeah, I think the two better teams deserved to make the final election. F Thomas Sabin 3. Do you think the Sustainable Campus Initiative should be presented in its current state to the U Board of Trustees? 4. What kind of businesses would you like to see as a part of the Universe Project? 5. Are you leaving for Spring Break before the school week is over? hard to vote. Too many voicemails, texts, e-mails and small talk in front of the library. So as a result, they want to rebel againstthat. Because most students don't care how the campus is run. Because most students don't care, or they forget to vote. Sophomore, Undeclared No—I voted for Synergy. However, I also feel that equality in campaigning was not present. No. Ifs exclusive to who they are allowed to select in their assembly. For many reasons: 1.1 think a lot of students don't realize the importance of voting and the benefits it gives them, and 2. Only allowing students within individual colleges and departments to vote for that college's representative eliminates a lot of voters. Due to the fact that the assembly and senate can only be chosen from friends, or people that know the president and vice president. They should be allowed to reach out to more people. I really don't care. Because no one is wellinformed. Yes, because we can always use a greener • campus. I think that we're a green campus and don't need to change a lot to present to the board. Yes I do, I feel our campus needs i t Yes, because you can never do enough to help the environment. Any business that will have a positive impact on students. BuildaChipotleon campus. More food places, like Chipotle. I don't know what the university project is. Yes,.to Boulder, Colorado on Thursday. No. I'm staying in the dorms. No, because my calculus professor scheduled an exam on Friday. No. Emily Cedeno Freshman, Civil and Envi- Sophomore, Nursing and ronmental Engineering Nutrition I think because people • feel as though the parties push them too 2. Why do you think ASUU elections generally suffer from low voter turnout? Brittany Snyder No—I feel that the Sustainble Campus Initiative is a good proposal and could potentially be beneficial. No, money needs to be better allocated. However, I think our tuition money could be utilized in more effective ways beneficial to the students. I actually disagree with the Universe Project. Hqwever, if I had to pick, I Pharmacy. would say a grocery store for better convenience for those students without cars. No, not until after the Yes, Friday to Atlanta, weekend. Hopefully Georgia. to Moab with some friends. |