I am a student opposed to the UC renovation for one simple reason. Once the school gets a hold of our increased fees – if we approve them – then we’ll no longer be consulted about planning and budgeting of the project.
In the last month, more has been done to convince us that the UC renovation is a worthy goal than any explanation on how and what will be done. We are being placated with little events on campus and being asked to participate in surveys to choose a plan for the renovation, which almost didn’t happen. Micah Kenfield, a co-chair of the UC 2010 Initiative who collaborated in spearheading the effort, admitted, "There was pressure from E. Cullen to make this a vote on a new facility" (Option D in the survey, which costs $130 million).
The referendum is supposed to happen in March, but this one for Tuesday and Wednesday is being rushed on us. Why is the University so anxious to grab our money?
After the University quadruples our UC Fee and hikes up the Student Fees Advisory Committee fee and finally has all the money they need to spend on a $100 million project (Option C), I cannot believe they won’t again try to use pressure for a hidden change, increasing costs at our expense. Once fees go up, they stay up. Considering the increased job losses every month and the bad atmosphere for borrowing and lending, do you think this is the wisest idea? I certainly don’t.
If I were the CEO of a realty or construction company, I would expect project deadlines, receipts and budget reports on all projects. As students, we should be the CEOs of this campus once we vote to hand over $100 million, and should be given an itemized budget with reports and proper deadlines to ensure nothing runs over the clock and costs too much. But we aren’t promised that. I want to see that offer made in writing by President Renu Khator before I approve anything that costs $100 million.
Currently, there is a "summarized" budget that broadly defines anticipated purchases, but I don’t want that. I want the real details as they happen; I can be told what the University is buying and why its buying those things.
Those fees and that $100 million is a set of books and a parking pass for you and me. I will vote against the UC 2010 Initiative.
Smith, a political science senior, can be reached via [email protected]
