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OPINION & EDITORIAL

Wisconsin Union Directorate promotes student interests

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by Guest Columnist

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

While The Badger Herald Editorial Board deserves praise for being familiar with the facts of the Wisconsin Union Facilities Improvement Plan (WUFIP), many of their assertions ["Millions for Donations, Not One Cent for Tribute," Feb. 14] about private funding and building demand are mistaken, unrealistic or dangerous to student power.

Last year's vote was based on an outdated plan based on input from students in 1998, and due to the lack of time and student ownership, Wisconsin Union Directorate failed to educate our fellow students about the details of this plan. Indeed, the narrow defeat of last year's referendum did send a message: that the University community deserves a better facilities plan that thousands of today's students would help create, and that we need to put every effort into informing the entire student body about the details. Scrapping the outdated plan and starting from scratch this fall, WUFIP is based on the ideas of over 5,000 students who responded to the e-mail survey sent this fall, the hundreds of students involved in focus groups and open forums, and the dozens of students who met directly in planning meetings with architects.

The Editorial Board is correct in declaring that renovating Memorial Union and constructing a new South Campus Union are necessary. The Facilities Improvement Plan will address growing demand for student space, make long-overdue renovations to preserve and make more accessible Memorial Union, and build an environmentally friendly South Campus Union. The Board is mistaken, however, in asserting that the new Student Activity Center (SAC) will decrease demand for student activity space. Indeed, the SAC will include mostly student organization office space. The SAC will not, in fact, include significant meeting or activity space. Thus, the SAC will not meet the demands for such space — in fact, with new office space facilitating the strengthening of student organizations, the SAC will likely lead to an increase in demand for meeting and event space, in which the Union buildings specialize.

The Editorial Board is correct when they point out that the financing for WUFIP includes $30-40 million of private donations and possibly state and/or federal funds, as well as the Union's internal revenue. But the Board is wrong when they imply that the Wisconsin Union is not making its fullest efforts to secure alternative funding sources. The Union is ambitiously pursuing donors, but we are competing against an already saturated philanthropy market. While we are open to naming the new South Campus Union and certain individual rooms after responsible and generous private donors, the Wisconsin Union will not sell out student power, and will not compromise the Union's and University's integrity (in other words, don't count on coming to the 'Starbucks Union' anytime soon).

Now is the time that students must make their contribution. Guaranteeing 30 years of student fee support now enables the Union to buy the bonds necessary to begin the project. Furthermore, by securing students' commitment now, the Wisconsin Union gains incredible leverage when soliciting donations from private and government sources. If students aren't willing to help fund the project, it will increase the difficulty of soliciting alternative funds. It is very important for student voters to understand that the $96 per student per semester fee is a not to exceed amount. It can't go higher; it can only go lower. If we can raise greater than $30-40 million in alternative funds, then that $96 fee will go down. And you better believe that we are going to work our darndest to make this happen.

By closely examining the mix of student, private and other funding sources when considering their role in building the future of our University, the Editorial Board — and thousands of students — are exercising great prudence and responsibility. Understanding the fiscal realities of today's students (which is not hard to do when we are students ourselves), the Wisconsin Union will do everything in its power over the next several years to responsibly raise private, state and federal dollars to complement the significant contribution from UW students.

But hey — money equals power. Student money means maintaining the Wisconsin Union's unbroken tradition of student governance — with students holding the majority of Union Council seats, producing the 1,000-plus programs every year, and determining the funding, design and function of the renovated Memorial Union and a new South Campus Union. Would you want anyone else in charge?

Adam Robinson is a UW senior and Student Performance Director of the Wisconsin Union Directorate.

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Anonymous (February 22, 2006 @ 1:42am):

the money you're stealing from us now should suffice to provide programming. the money you want to steal from us in a month shouldn't be used to build a parking lot (can't be used by students) and a hotel (students can't afford it). doesn't anybody else see through their BS?

yeah it's great that it's a "green building"... but shouldn't it be a green building that students can actually use, since, you know, we're the ones paying for it?

stop whoring our campus for corporate money!

VOTE NO!

Anonymous (February 22, 2006 @ 9:17am):

you seriously expect that the same governments that refuse to fund our education will give us money for a new union?

dream on!

the funding model is worse this year than last. at least last time, the students who benefitted the most recieved the most benefit. now we'll pay a couple hundred bucks for facilities we aren't ever going to enjoy.

I was part of one of these committees, but after seeing the funding model, I'm going to have to vote no, and encourage others to do so, as well. The plans for renovation are great. I wish the plans to pay for it were, too.

Vote No.

Anonymous (February 22, 2006 @ 10:38am):

A couple of things to address the comments above...first, student funds aren't going to pay for a hotel(which isn't even part of the plan)or a parking lot and to say so is, to put it frankly, a complete lie.

"stop whoring our campus for corporate money! "

What? The whole purpose of this article was to state that students want to keep corporate money out of the Union.

"the funding model is worse this year than last. at least last time, the students who benefitted the most recieved the most benefit. now we'll pay a couple hundred bucks for facilities we aren't ever going to enjoy. "

The building would be completed within two years of the fee, which in my opinion is much more superior to the funding model from last year. The fee doesn't increase at all and has the potential to actually go down. Last year it was more money and the buildings wouldn't be completed for 6-10 years! The plan and the funding model are much better and are really important to our campus

"The plans for renovation are great. I wish the plans to pay for it were, too."

If you think the plans are great, how would you suggest paying for it?

This is important to student life. I support it and will encourage others to as well

VOTE YES!

Anonymous (February 22, 2006 @ 11:56am):

To clarify the misinformation of the first poster:

The student money would NOT be used for the potential underground parking at South, nor the additional guest rooms (not hotel) at South.

The lot would be paid for by UW Transportation Services.

The guest rooms would be paid for by Union operating revenue (i.e., the money that the guest rooms generate). And this is not a full-service hotel, just guest rooms with minimal amenities (like the ones currently in Memorial Union and Union South).

Finally, student fees DO NOT pay for most of the programs that WUD presents. Seg fees pay only for the Distinguished Lecture Series, and WUD gets a few hundred dollars here and there for event and travel grants. The majority of of the 1000+ programs that WUD presents are funded by Union operating revnue. That's money generated by folks who buy beer and hold their weddings at the Union. A small chunk comes in private donations, usually from alumni who are supporting specific programs.

Whoring our campus for corporate money? Don't you get it -- that's exactly what the Union plan is trying NOT to do. The Union hopes to compliment the students' great contribution with donations from private individuals and foundations. The whole idea is, WE DON'T WANT TO SELL OUT. Trust me, there are plenty of corporations that would love to get their names on our buildings and rooms, and hawk their products in our halls. If we were going to sell out to them, we wouldn't be asking for studnet money.

My concerned fellow student, I wish you had become part of this process like I had. You would understand that students are running this show. I would like to help answer any of your lingering concerns and questions. In fact, you can send them straight to the Wisconsin Union President, UW Senior Janell Wise, at president@union.wisc.edu. Or visit us in the Wisconsin Union Directorate offices in the 5th floor of Memorial Union (rooms 507 and 514).

To everyone else: ask questions before you spit out uninformed, false accusations. There are so many ways to ask. Talk to one of the WUFIP representatives tabling around campus. Email the president: she will respond. Visit us in our office. We've had several open fora and we will have more.

We're not upset if you oppose WUFIP and the funding model. But if you're going to do it, do it based on the facts. We don't want any uninformed voters on there, on either side of the issue.

Adam Robinson

Anonymous (February 22, 2006 @ 11:57am):

Vote yes.
Vote no.

Whatever you do, vote informed.

Anonymous (February 22, 2006 @ 1:17pm):

Student contributions will pay for 58% of the project.

Student money= student power

As mentioned above, the parking structure and guest rooms are not paid for with student money.

I agree: "Vote yes. Vote no. Vote informed."

I love the Union. I support student needs. I'm informed. I'm willing to help inform you. Please ask any questions you may have.

shaynahetzel@wisc.edu

or email the Union president, Janell Wise at president@union.wisc.edu

Anonymous (February 22, 2006 @ 1:36pm):

Last year the plan asked for students to pay for 75% of the total cost and that was for an outdated plan. This year, a better plan--student led, student created plan has students contributing 58%. This is a significant decrease and I applaud Directorate and others for LISTENING.

The Wisconsin Union learned from its failed referendum and made many changes that make this plan this year so much better.

Students led the process starting immediately this past fall 2005. Student groups led the discussion, came up with the plans and had dialogue on the survey results (of which 13% of campus responded).

The plan has been embraced by other student groups such as Polygon, wisPIRG, Emerging green builders, Iron Cross BASE, WASB and others.

We shouldn't refer to this plan as "they" want this but "we" want this...because you know what? STUDENTS DID THIS. Students created this plan. Students are out there getting signatures. Students sent back email surveys. Students participated in core groups, steering committees, focus groups and open forums.

It's not a struggle of administrators looking down at us students and demanding we support their decisions. NO! Our fellow students, like Janell Wise and Adam Robinson are taking the lead in this project and trying to secure STUDENT'S FUTURE.

This plan is OUR plan. Take ownership in it. Take some ownership in this campus community and think for one second, what it would be like in 25 years if we didn't have a Union??

This is our plan. THis is our time to leave a legacy.