Referendum Review, Part I

So, Beetle has picked up on this Student Voice Referendum, which is one of two referendums covered in the ASUC Voter Guide that was released today. As primary opponent of the bill, it has been difficult to mobilize resources to fight the proponents of the SVR, especially with my own campaign(s) to run. Additionally, my opponent's statement was left out of the Voter Guide, though it will be included in tomorrow's Daily Cal. Here's the text:

VOTE NO ON STUDENT EXTORTION

Proponents for “Student Voice Referendum” claim that this additional increase to student fees will save the ASUC thousands of dollars. They claim that the funds are needed to help with lobbying on the local, state, and national level. And, they claim that $4.50 per semester is a nominal fee for this service.

These arguments show a beautiful forest, but do not tell you how the trees got there. In truth, this referendum foresees a beautiful end – but the means leave the students of this university in a horrible position. This referendum will decrease ASUC financial accountability, reduce the Association’s control over its own funds, and perpetuate an alarming trend of passing the buck of financial responsibility to students.

The Student Voice Referendum gives thousands of dollars to one executive office with little oversight. If this measure passes, thousands of dollars each semester will go to the ASUC Office of the External Affairs Vice President without approval of the ASUC Senate, which oversees almost all other financial allocations. This money will go to “lobbying”, as defined by the EAVP and the President. The ASUC has already had accountability problems with “lobbying” efforts, and giving one executive a stack of funds with little regulation is exacerbating the problem at the expense of students. Do not let your student fees be used for a potential slush fund. Vote NO on this referendum.

The Student Voice Referendum gives thousands of dollars to an association with whom we have little direct control. The ASUC and ASUCGA are both members of the UC Student Association. However, this is but a small fraction of voting groups that control what the UCSA accomplishes with its resources. Why give additional funds away to a group whose aims potentially may not align with ours? Additionally, the ASUC Senate is once again left out of this process, leaving little direct oversight for these funds. This is, once again, a no-strings attached grant of funds and authority without accountability or control. Do not allow fiscal responsibility to be sacrificed for an end that can be achieved through more reasonable methods. Vote NO on this referendum.

The Student Voice Referendum is the quintessential example of the ASUC extorting student funds for services it should already be providing. Only a few years ago, the ASUC doubled the fee it charges students to increase the amount of services and resources it could provide to students and student groups. Yet, here we are today, being asked to shoulder another $4.50 in fees per semester. What’s next? $8 a semester for the President’s office? $10 a year for SUPERB? Throwing more fees at our problems is irresponsible, inefficient, and unfair to students already burdened down by them. This referendum does not save the ASUC money – it squanders student money. Vote NO on this referendum.Email This Post!