The Minnesota Student Association has drafted a proposal to implement cellphone charging stations in “high-traffic areas” around the University of Minnesota campus, the Minnesota Daily reported Feb. 6. The plan would feature outlets with several different charger ends in some of the most popular buildings on campus, like the Science Teaching and Student Services building.

While similar initiatives have been put into place at several other Big Ten universities, it would be a poor use of money from their special projects fund. It should not be the responsibility of the student government to help peers keep their phones charged, especially at our own expense (funding would come from student services fees).

Installing cellphone charging stations on campus would be a solution to a nonexistent problem. While it’s likely that students have become increasingly reliant and attached to their cellphones over the years, ensuring that the battery can last throughout the day remains a simple process college students should be able to handle on their own.

It’s possible that this initiative has stemmed from an inadequate number of outlets in several common areas and study lounges around campus — this is a complaint that is not without basis. Coffman Union, for example, is notorious for its weekday congestion, as well as its general lack and awkward placing of electrical outlets.

Finding ways to redesign electrical usage and increase efficiency in Coffman and other areas might be more worthwhile than adding charging stations — which will certainly require extensive maintenance and constant changing of new phone plugs — on campus.