Tuesday’s Student Government vote on the proposed Reitz Union expansion has stirred up almost as much interest (and as many impassioned letters and Web site comments) as SG’s pending decision on a resolution denouncing the Goldstone report, the controversial UN report alleging Israeli war crimes.
For those of you somehow not already offended by the Alligator’s coverage of this report — and we know there must be a few of you left out there — look to future issues.
But this week, rather than grandiose matters of war and peace in the Middle East, SG tackled a subject that it may actually hold some influence over... unfortunately.
This resolution, which supports a student fee for the renovation and expansion of the Reitz Union (and effectively endorses the expansion itself), passed 67 — 10, despite fierce debate.
The fact that letters to the Alligator describe this debate as “grad-student whining” underscores how differently some parties view the proposed fees. A $20 dollar flat fee plus $3 per credit hour might sound like chump change. But if it does, you’re likely not one of about 75 students who appeared to voice concerns about rising student fees.
These whiners, many of whom are grad students without Bright Futures or Florida Prepaid to help ease costs, pay significant amounts out of pocket toward student fees. One graduate assistant in the English department says her student fees account for up to 10 percent of her salary.
Another $100 dollars a year might not mean much for SG senators or persistent, anonymous letter writers, but to someone on a razor thin budget, it can make a difference.
The fact that SG is voting on how to pay for a renovation and expansion before it determines whether the Student Body even wants — or needs — these changes leaves us with the same look of shock and bewilderment that uninformed students will have if slapped with new fees.
SG members cite a petition signed by 1,500 students as evidence that UF wants (and needs?) a new and improved Reitz Union. We can picture how that went down almost like we were badgered outside of Library West ourselves: grand promises without a complete explanation of the financial impact on all students.
As for the argument that student organizations desperately need more office and meeting space, we still wonder how the empty halls and meeting rooms that make the Reitz look like a ghost town factor into SG’s assessment. If the Reitz wants to “better meet the needs of our current student population,” as its executive director Eddie Daniels described the expansion’s goal, why not first focus on making maximum use of the current facilities.
UF can accomplish this goal by involving students (other than a few SG members) in the process, receiving feedback along the way to make better informed decisions. Daniels said that architects tasked with planning the proposed expansion met with students, organizations, faculty and staff earlier this month; we wonder what limited group of students these architects met with. We didn’t receive an invitation. (Go figure.)
UF and SG’s lack of transparency in planning Reitz changes merely aggravates all of these issues. Student fees, determining critical needs... whether changes are necessary at all; we need public discussion on these key points.
UF is a learning institution; it is ironic that we simultaneously cut dozens of faculty and staff members while constructing new and possibly unnecessary buildings. Students need a voice in this decision, especially if millions of dollars are involved.
Fortunately this resolution does not take any action. It merely reflects the opinion of the Senate. We’re not quite sure that it reflects the opinion of the UF Student Body, though.
