The Alligator’s endorsement of the Reitz Union referendum has me at the edge of my seat. I read the Alligator daily and recognize it as the primary and most knowledgeable source for everything going on on campus. For weeks, I have read about the proposed student fee to repair and renovate the Reitz Union. I heard the potential price but wasn’t aware of the potential results. The Alligator Editorial Board has pulled the rug out from under my feet and made me think twice about this issue.
I have always seen the Alligator as being the only truly independent entity in Student Government politics. The Alligator is never influenced by certain organizations. It publishes stories that the students care about. Therefore, an endorsement from them weighs heavily in my decision on how to vote.
The main reason I had been planning to vote against the Unite Party was because it seemed to be single-handedly pushing the Reitz Union issue down the throats of students. I was unaware of truly substantive reasons why one should support a fee increase of more than $100 per semester. The Alligator has validated the claims of Unite and the Renew Your Reitz campaign that there are significant necessary repairs and that there are amazing benefits to be gained by a renovation.
