Having been purged from the fees committee after serving as chairman two years ago, I generally have removed myself from the process. Attending those fruitless public hearings would be too painful. And because I don’t read the Daily unless someone recommends an article to me, I can isolate myself from the entire backward, loathsome system.
Thursday’s article updating the apathetic student body about the fees recommendations however, gave the nasty fees storm cloud a thin silver lining. Only if the entire fees system were abolished and all the money stolen from students returned would I smile. Two things did go better than forecasted, though. One, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Jerry Rinehart didn’t reverse the work of the committee, and two, the ballooning budgets for cultural centers felt restraint.
The trend had been to have the recommendations from the long, tired fees process (run for students, by students) promptly reviewed and changed by the school administration. The ostensible “fair” process involving months of the committee’s time changed with the stroke of the ominous administrative pen. Be thankful that regardless of the committee’s political leanings, the administration stepped away. That makes the process supposedly more legitimate.
Some fees are entirely justifiable. Many students use the recreational center on a regular basis. And those that don’t, should. But few students listen to Radio K, see a Crisis Point production, join the Women’s Student Activist Collective, read The Wake or even know that Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow exists. (So, now you know that CFACT exists. Does anyone know what it does? Does it?) Pretend that more than 1 percent of the student population took advantage of these “opportunities.” These groups still suffer from rampant fiscal irresponsibility and abject corruption. That’s what happens when you give college kids other people’s money. I won’t whistle-blow now – that’s the job of your faithful Daily reporters.
So about that second piece of good news; I have no idea about the recommendations set forth save what the Daily published last week. The numbers revealed demonstrate that the committee finally understands, at some level, that each cultural center cannot be granted a double-digit percentage raise each year. Eventually the number of free pizza parties needs to be controlled.
Lindsay Brown is a University student. Please send comments to [email protected].
