Why I am running for Student Senate:
I begin by mentioning a ballot initiative that has gotten little attention. In addition to the two initiatives concerning the Reitz Union, there is a ballot initiative, supported by the Student Alliance, calling on UF to join the Worker Rights Consortium. The Worker Rights Consortium is a labor rights organization that provides universities with means to ensure their apparel, such as T-shirts, are produced in fair, sweatshop-free conditions. There is, to my knowledge, no organized opposition to this proposal and I believe it will pass, but the message will be much stronger if students come out in large numbers to vote for it.
The Student Alliance opposes the Reitz Union fee, as does Graduate Assistants United, of which I am a proud member. When I asked Reitz Union director Eddie Daniels on Thursday how much the proposed expansion (the second question on the ballot) would cost, he said he did not know, but that it would cost at least $70 million. I hope the Reitz Union will figure out key details and come back to us when they know exactly what is being proposed and how much it will cost. At that time, they will also be in a better position to appeal for funding from other sources, such as the Capital Improvement Trust Fund.
I have been distressed by the ugly character this campaign has taken, including Frank Walch’s hateful letter to the editor Monday, which the Alligator should be ashamed of for having published. I do not know who produced the fliers comparing the Student Alliance to the Nazi party, but whoever did so should face serious consequences.
It is time to bring this campaign back to the real issues. Today is the last day to vote, and polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling locations are on our fliers and can also be found at this Web site: http://www.sg.ufl.edu/elections/polling.pdf.
