Spring Break
Toys for jocks: Gross misallocation of needed university funds
Phil Elder
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Opinion
Among the CSU student body exists immense distrust felt toward our dear President Larry Penley.
Much of this sentiment is represented in the chambers of the Associated Students of CSU. In his talks with the student organization he displays a sort of reluctance, even refusal, to respect our peer-elected officials, to hold the students at an equal level with the faculty and administration, even to display any fidelity in our budgetary abilities.
Until last Wednesday I was in wholehearted disagreement with his approach.
At last week's meeting, the ASCSU Senate voted in a bill supporting a $35 million dollar boost to the Rec. Center so that a minority percentage of students that regularly attend the gym can enjoy a few new toys, like a rock wall and a sauna -- the strongest reason for advocacy being "I don't like dealing with crowds when I go to the gym."
Before I explain why this is an atrocious allocation of university money, allow me to provide some background.
The bulk amount of the dormitories, excluding Summit and the new one that has replaced Ellis Hall, haven't been remodeled in a dangerous amount of time and have succumbed to the will of the messiest and most dangerous part of the student body. We all remember freshman year. Many of them, subsequently, have serious problems with both infrastructure and cosmetic appearance.
The Clark building, the location of the staggering majority of classes for the Liberal Arts College -- the most enrolled college at this institution -- has dangerous levels of asbestos (the exposure of which is known to cause cancer) and other harmful bacteria breeding within its walls. This substandard safety condition has been known for years now, yet nothing has been done, because the university just doesn't have the bursary to fix it.
Entire programs are being cancelled due to a lack of funding. Some classrooms don't have enough desks to hold the amount of students enrolled. Tuition, as we all know, is skyrocketing annually.
Much of this sentiment is represented in the chambers of the Associated Students of CSU. In his talks with the student organization he displays a sort of reluctance, even refusal, to respect our peer-elected officials, to hold the students at an equal level with the faculty and administration, even to display any fidelity in our budgetary abilities.
Until last Wednesday I was in wholehearted disagreement with his approach.
At last week's meeting, the ASCSU Senate voted in a bill supporting a $35 million dollar boost to the Rec. Center so that a minority percentage of students that regularly attend the gym can enjoy a few new toys, like a rock wall and a sauna -- the strongest reason for advocacy being "I don't like dealing with crowds when I go to the gym."
Before I explain why this is an atrocious allocation of university money, allow me to provide some background.
The bulk amount of the dormitories, excluding Summit and the new one that has replaced Ellis Hall, haven't been remodeled in a dangerous amount of time and have succumbed to the will of the messiest and most dangerous part of the student body. We all remember freshman year. Many of them, subsequently, have serious problems with both infrastructure and cosmetic appearance.
The Clark building, the location of the staggering majority of classes for the Liberal Arts College -- the most enrolled college at this institution -- has dangerous levels of asbestos (the exposure of which is known to cause cancer) and other harmful bacteria breeding within its walls. This substandard safety condition has been known for years now, yet nothing has been done, because the university just doesn't have the bursary to fix it.
Entire programs are being cancelled due to a lack of funding. Some classrooms don't have enough desks to hold the amount of students enrolled. Tuition, as we all know, is skyrocketing annually.
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