Opinion

ASM pay raises unacceptable

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Related stories:

• Always unacceptable (May 8, 2002)
• Bad timing, bad politics (February 5, 2002)
• Wiley's real stance (November 3, 2004)
• Final fall: Bo must go (March 31, 2008)
• University overbearing in regulation (October 20, 2005)

Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:

• The Invisible Man Award: Wyndham Manning (May 7, 2009)
• The People's Choice Award: Jacqueline Hitchon et. al (May 7, 2009)
• The Lifetime Achievement Award: ASM (May 7, 2009)
• Honest representation (May 5, 2009)
• Junger for ASM Chair (May 5, 2009)

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We can now add basic math to the list of the Associated Students of Madison’s shortcomings.

Last Thursday, ASM proposed to raise its internal budget by 17 percent. Seven percent is due to a technicality, but the reason for the remaining 10 percent increase is a mystery.

ASM suggested it was merely keeping up with inflation. But what confuses us is that inflation last year averaged 4.4 percent — significantly less than the 10 percent ASM is asking for.

Moreover, ASM made significant cuts in several areas of its budget, including computers, copying, travel and publications.

Obviously, something was not adding up.

A close examination of the budget reveals the truth (as well as ASM’s reason to downplay it): They gave themselves raises.

If approved, next year the secretary of ASM will earn $2,000, 167 percent more than the $750 the position currently makes. Similarly, committee chairs will make 25 percent more, and student hourly positions will receive 55 percent more. Included among the student hourly positions are the narrowly defined diversity liaisons, who will see their pay skyrocket from $2,560 up to $3,950.

These pay raises, far in excess of inflation, are a flagrant abuse of student money. Not only have ASM’s visibility and activities decreased this year, but also seg fees — for which ASM is ultimately responsible — are spiraling out of control.

ASM can’t even make the argument that the raises will be used to reward returning staff members with high levels of expertise, since there is almost a complete turnover every year. And every year, ASM leadership says it’s underpaid, and claims that more money will improve student representation.

But, as this year’s less-than-stellar student leadership is proving, better pay does not necessarily result in better student government.