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Show 9 OPINION www.dailyutahchronicle.corn Monday, March 15, 2010 THE CHRONICLE'S VIEW The time is NOW w ith campus preparing to cast ballots to decide between the NOW and ICE parties, led by Chase Jardine and Clint Hugie respectively, the word of the year is details, and the time is NOW Although the platforms of each party contain a few similar ideas—some suspiciously alike—NOW has done more homework. For every platform point, NOW has consulted with experts both in auxiliary campus positions and offcampus businesses. Not only are they prepared with specific evidence supporting the necessity of their goals, but each proposal also includes a viable source of funding and distinct plan of action. Although the ICE Party's platform matches up fairly well, its research is wanting. For example, the party's first platform point—the all-arts pass—seems incomplete. The concept is that ICE would have campus venues set aside a number of tickets for the Associated Students of the University of Utah to distribute to students for free. Although the concept sounds nice, ICE is still working with many of the venues, having obtained affirmative responses from just a few. And although its platform suggests ASUU would have access to "every on-campus performing or fine-arts performance," that promise is a bit premature. The plans to execute the rest of its platform points are comparatively vague, transmitting the feeling of a platform that is well-meaning but only half-finished. One criticism of NOW's platform— and a fair one—is that most of its goals are fused with the goals of campus auxiliary groups. For example, its sustainability proposal mostly consists of aiding a university recycling program that already exists. Its idea to construct a career guide and focus on career development would work closely with U Career Services. Although some see this as riding the coattails of other organizations, NOW is offering help where help is needed. The idea of sending ASUU out of the office to help the university complete worthwhile projects should be received positively, especially when so many campus programs are suffering financially. In addition, the fact that many of these goals will be done in cooperation with U auxiliaries increases the chance of them being realized. The NOW Party's idea to construct a career guide is especially noteworthy. The plan would be to organize an online guide for students working toward professional schools and programs, starting with medicine, law, dental, business and engineering. The guide, constructed by the Student Services Board, would include the prerequisites for each program, other resources such as service opportunities, and case studies featuring students in each discipline. NOW would have a simple version ready by Fall Semester and would continue to add areas of study to the expanding guide. The final product could be a great benefit to average students, and NOW seems to have a game plan that can make it happen. Although ICE has some positive ideas—not supporting any new student fees, a strong stance against tuition increases, cutting ASUU stipends from $800 to ssoo, and the suggestion that Hugie wouldn't take a stipend—all of them are minor platform points and weren't stressed during the campaign. Nevertheless, whichever party wins the election should take these ideas seriously. Meanwhile, NOW does have a few ideas that seem questionable. The plan to hire a marketing company to send informational texts to students interested in certain campus events comes to mind. Although it seems good in theory, we wonder about its financial feasibility and whether there is enough student demand to make it worthwhile. Aside from these small points, Jardine's NOW party has put a good deal of preparation and thought into the technicalities of running ASUU post-election. Students should put NOW dowe on their ballots this Tuesday and Wednesday. Voting will be available both days through students' online accounts. letters@chronicle.utah.edu Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily Utah Chronicle Editorial Board. Signed editorials, editorial columns and letters to the editor are strictly the opinions of the author. The forum created on the Opinion Page is one based on vigorous debate, while at the same time demanding tolerance and respect. Material defamatory to an individual or group because of race, ethnic background, religion, creed, gender, appearance or sexual orientation will be edited or will not be published. All letters to the editor will now be published online at www.dailyutahchronicle.com . Letters that the editor deems best represent those received will be printed in the newspaper. ASUU Elections 2010 Party Platform Rundown NOW Party ICE Party President: Chase Jardine Vice President: John Pearson Senior Class President: Morgan Sorenson President: Clint Hugie Vice President: Cameron King Senior Class President: Tevita Uesi Raise MUSS Cap All-Arts Pass ASUU would have a set amount of ticket vouchers for every on-campus performingarts or fine-art event available to students for free. Would get students involved in campus events and offer a free venue. Downside Only a few campus venues are on board. Also, it is unknown whether the program would be used by students. An additional 2,000 standing room seats currently set aside for day-of purchasers will be added to the MUSS. The 800 student tickets set aside for students not in the MUSS would remain. Downside Although party members worked with the Student Alumni Board to make it happen, this will take place whether or not NOW wins the election. Career Development The party would make the Student Services Board an active advocate for students to employers.The Career Fair would be expanded to a week, featuring workshops. ASUU would help Career Services staff the event, approach businesses and reach out to students. The board would also construct an online, constantly expanding guide for students working toward professional schools and programs, starting with medicine, law, dental, business and engineering.The guide would include the prerequisites for each program, other resources such as service opportunities and student case studies. Downside The Career Fair's current attendance by employers and students raises some doubts about whether it would enjoy more interest during the course of a week. And, as the online guide project is ambitious, it also risks a high chance of failure. Similar projects have been suggested in the past and failed to materialize. Sustainability and Recycling NOW would alter some office hours of ASUU officers to be used to aid the U's recycling program. By helping the recycling program collect and deliver bins, more could be utilized. In addition, ASUU members would occasionally help the student group SEED tend campus gardens. Downside Relies partly on the initiative of individual ASUU members. If they fail to support NOW's goals, the program could fizzle. Event Texting Program The program would allow students to sign up for text notifications for campus event categories such as sporting events, fine arts, etc. Downside The financial feasibility has a few kinks in it. At 3 cents per text, large student participation could be a problem. Plus, NOW's promise that each notification could be crammed into just one 160-character text per student each time, regardless of how many categories a student signs up for, seems doubtful. Diversity Directors of each ASUU Board would be assigned to meet with every student group willing to have them, especially groups catering to a specific demographic. This could increase campus familiarity of ASUU and ASUU's ability help individual groups effectively while costing nothing. Downside The program depends on the initiative of ASUU board members. Unless groups feel they are benefited by ASUU's presence, their visits could become unwelcome. InvolveU Brochure The brochure would include a directory of all 300-plus student groups under the categories of Greek Row, Spiritual-based, Recreation, Academic and Campus Life. It would include a brief description, contact information and the time commitment required for participation. Downside Ambitious and runs the risk of failure. Similar guides for student groups and scholarships have failed in the past. Students who really want to be involved can probably do so without the help of a brochure. Almost all copies will be given to incoming freshmen, leaving few for students already at the U. Creation of the Outreach Board Would combine Campus Relations and Student Services Boards, saving money on director stipends and budgets. Board members would attend the student group meetings of campus groups and gather information through methods such as surveys. Information could help ASUU better serve student groups. Downside Depends on the initiative of ASUU board members. It is questionable how the information gathered through surveys would be processed and formed into action. Calendar of Events ICE would create an online calendar on the ASUU website featuring university and student-organized events. Could help students be better informed and increase participation. Downside Overlaps with the Student Groups Management System calendar, which receives little traffic. Minor Platform Points Includes great ideas such as decreasing stipends, increasing help finding financial aid, and discouraging student fee increases. Downside None of the ideas were stressed during the campaign, and none have solid plans of action. Government shouldn't set school standards Parents need to have the freedom of choice when it comes to education I f you have a tattoo, you might consider not being a professional of any kind. At least that's what Ogden School District thinks, as it redefined "professionalism" last January in its dress code to exclude tattoos. Mark Johnson, an English teacher at Ogden High for Is years, was told by a superior that his tattoos, containing the names of his children and wife, among other images, don't fit the Ogden School District's professional standard. He was also told that noncompliance could endanger his job. Whether this is a correct decision might rest on any given perception of "professional." More egregious is the lack of foresight that advocates of government schools have demonstrated as they've disagreed with these issues. If you think that either the state or federal government should fund and operate the education of children, consider Johnson an offering to the deity of central authority. If, however, you agree with me that the political will, constantly infused in anything funded by political institutions, shouldn't be present in the preparation of young minds, you might be an advocate of markets, competition and publicly funded but privately operated schools. The freedom to make contracts as consenting parties individually see fit underlies almost everything beneficial, especially for anyone who is unique. Milton Friedman, Nobel Laureate economist, was not the first to argue, as he did in Capitalism and Freedom, that "a free market separates efficiency from irrelevant characteristics." Friedman argued two points. ea) ZACK OAKEY viz t■ IP "91- First-year Medical Student First, employers can only have so many priorities. If they focus on some arbitrary quality of employees over efficiency of output, a competitor not as concerned about this quality will outcompete. Second, in the bartering process such qualities are never important. I've never seen a package of corn in the freezer aisle that detailed the appearance of those who grew or processed it. This is irrelevant to the taste. Education that's funded and operated by the government has the effect of telling consumers— students and their parents—what they will be concerned about. Friedrich Hayek, Nobel Laureate economist, described in The Road to Serfdom how the control of the purse is not a secretarial function. He said, "Economic control is not merely control over a sector of human life which can be separated from the rest—it is control of the means for all our ends." In other words, the government, by virtue of its management of money, dictates the ends and not the means of decisions. If schools were structured in such a way that parents and children could choose which schools they think would best prepare them for life, "irrelevant characteristics"— tattoos, nose piercings, shirt colors, classroom decor, whatever—would be subject to their analysis, not the government's. Again, Friedman wisely proposed a solution that would ensure parent choice and school efficiency while also giving parents license to select whatever objectives they have for their children by separating financing of education from operation. He suggested a voucher system where parents would receive a check that could only be redeemed in those schools the parents selected. That way, the standards that parents would like to pursue would be preserved, and those that are not important to them would be left to the school. The government wouldn't be totally out of it. Friedman thought that it could focus on "assuring that the schools met certain minimum standards such as the inclusion of a minimum common content... as it now inspects restaurants to assure that they maintain minimum sanitary standards." This role of policing—as many of us know firsthand—can be accomplished by the state without much difficulty. What it can't do is translate the individual needs of everyone like a market can. If schools can be incentivized to meet parents' standards and not the surrounding people's, freedom will be maximized. If parents don't want their kids to see body piercings or tattoos, let them decide by giving them the money to do it. Their ends, and not the state's, ought to be prioritized. letters@chronicle.utah.edu SOILIZ.V1 OVe., SC_VtooL ots-Take.---r po&SAIT isa-LcApJ A- -t 005. To YkeeNie ..1•011111.■ ■■••■••"......1"1111•101r S OS /Kitt) WILLUS BRANHAM/The Daily Utah Chronicle |