I’d like to express my utter disgust at the student senators who completely disregarded their student constituents last night. More than 70 students attended the Senate meeting in opposition of a resolution that would support UF administration charging all students a fee for the expansion and renovation of the Reitz Union. Majority party senators approved this bill while simultaneously rejecting a proposed amendment that would bring it to a Student Body referendum. It is understood that the repairs are necessary. The expansion, however, is debatable pork.
Although the majority party senators were quick to vote for this resolution, they were not so quick to provide us with concrete estimates of the costs students would have to shoulder.
In fact, many of the estimates completely ignored the additional millions of dollars in costs that would be the responsibility of the Student Body (more than $120 million). Yes, everybody wants the luxury of a beautiful union, but should it be at the expense of other students’ groceries, gas and ability to continue their education at UF? With such a controversial issue, students should have spoken out, and they did — only to be told their opinion was irrelevant. Instead of participating in debate, most senators were busy texting on their BlackBerrys and iPhones. Senators, it would be nice if you considered the people who originally gave you authority.
