Saturday, April 02, 2005
Whoa
This is the first I've heard of a Student Voice Referendum. I haven't seen anything on election.asuc.org. None at The Committee on Student Fees website. In fact, I can't find evidence of this anywhere but It's a referendum to give more money to lobbying people so they can continue to be ineffective at lobbying.
This referendum is an investment that will pay off a hundred-fold. While it would increase our fees $4.50 per semester, this funding would help us to fight the fee increases of over $400 proposed for next year and beyond.
Liz says that it WILL pay off a hundred-fold. That's a guarantee. Is Liz Hall willing to guarantee our money? Will she pay us all $4.50 if the fee increase occurs anyway (which, of course, it will)?
Putting aside the logic of fighting fee increases by raising fees, what about the procedure? Isn't there a complicated procedure to get a fee increase referendum on a ballot? I was hearing about the health fee referendum since last November. But this one I've heard nothing about. I can't find a copy of it. The election manager doesn't appear to have a location where information is available. Guidelines are here.
Moving along,
The referendum would ensure that students at UC Berkeley would have a much stronger voice during key decisions. It would also free up over $40,000 in the ASUC budget for student group funding.
How does that logic work? If we're raising fees so we can give that money to lobbyists, how does that leave the ASUC with extra money for student groups?
This referendum would ensure that these efforts will not only continue, but grow stronger in years to come. Think what we could do if we were able to take buses of people to Sacramento whenever the legislature has a hearing or the regents vote on fees or financial aid.
Uh... use a lot of gas? Because you certainly wouldn't be able to change anyone's mind.
. . .
|
. . .
|
