OPINION & EDITORIAL
Stay in the shallow end
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:
- A security fee-for-all (December 11, 2007)
- Farewell, Chancellor (December 10, 2007)
- $$FC (December 6, 2007)
- In a bind (December 5, 2007)
- Entitlement Town (December 4, 2007)
Related Stories:
- If at first you don't succeed... (November 1, 2006)
- Gross incompetence (October 18, 2004)
- An unholy Union (April 18, 2007)
- UW Transportation hurts SAFE services (December 1, 2005)
- I think I can, I think I can... (December 3, 2007)
by Badger Herald Editorial Board
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Whether it's the multitude of botched elections, the gross mishandling of segregated fees or just the general ineptitude of the organization's members, it's safe to say that the Associated Students of Madison has done very little to impress the student body. But when ASM announced their latest endeavor — lobbying for a full student "study day" before finals week — we couldn't help but be surprised. Then again perhaps we were just in shock ASM has finally stumbled upon a task befitting of its job description.
This initiative — which seeks to prevent students from taking exams during a day otherwise set aside for studying by pushing the exam period back a day — seems relatively harmless.
Why should students be so tickled by ASM finally doing no harm? Well, there's no question ASM's track record is less than perfect.
During the 2005-06 school year, ASM was forced to throw out two attempts at an election because of technical problems. When they finally succeeded at executing an election in October 2006, only 6.59 percent of the student body turned out to vote. Even more disturbing was the outcome — both the Living Wage Referendum and the Student Union Initiative passed, the latter alone will eventually cost each student an additional $192 a year in student-segregated fees.
Speaking of segregated fees, ASM frivolously spends some $19 million a year on questionably beneficial projects. In addition to providing wildly extravagant budgets for student groups, they have also orchestrated the ASM Bus Pass program — which last year alone cost students a whopping $2.2 million.
To add insult to injury, according to a 2006 WISCAPE survey released this week, only 30 percent of the student body said it was satisfied with the student government. That's about the approval rating of President George W. Bush.
So you can imagine our surprise at ASM's latest brainchild, which is among the organization's least controversial proposals in years. While we think students will do just fine with or without a study day, ASM is doing its job as a student government and actually working to promote student interests.
It has been proven time and again that handling large sums of money and initiatives under the banner of shared governance is not ASM's forte. So our advice to you, ASM: Stick to the small stuff.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 2:57am):
Ah, the Verstandigists.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 8:19am):
How about mentioning the FLAWLESS election that took place last week? You know, just to be fair...
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 9:14am):
No surprise here, the Badger Herald is saying something negative about ASM. Of course you mentioned the two elections that were a disaster, because of programing errors by DoIT, but did you mention this past electronic election? No you didn't, why because you like to focus on the negative and you need something to bitch about. Maybe more students would vote if the student newspaper reporters got off their asses and did their civic duty and gave the student population more information on the candidates and less opinions on on how past elections didn't go they way you wanted them to. Then again placing real information in your paper would mean you would have less space for ads ASM wildly pays for one behalf of the student groups. Here's an idea why doesn't the Badger Herald let Registered Student Organizations place free ads in the paper? Then we might be able to lower your seg fees.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 9:48am):
Once again, the Badger Herald editorial board shows that it has no clue. ASM may be incompetent, but there is nothing wrong with the bus pass program. If all together the program is costing $2.2 million, then that comes out to about $55 a student.
"But wait a minute, Anonymous Commenter," you may interject. "I live right next to campus and therefore never ride the bus. That $55 is just being wasted!"
Ah, but if there is no bus pass, thousands of students who live removed from campus and take the bus in will now move closer. Do you really think that the increased demand for your apartment will cause your rent to rise less than $5 a month?
Even though you may never step foot on a bus, the ASM bus pass program saves you money.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 11:20am):
"Verstandigists"???
I think OED missed that one...
-Victor Blake Marx
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 12:50pm):
I like the people posting about the "flawless" ASM election. Wow, congratulations, the student government was actually able to hold an election where they didn't have to throw out the results at the end. Woo-hoo!
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 1:26pm):
There are five other ASM committees working on really important student issues similar to the study day.
ASM does great work!
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 2:56pm):
MOM!
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 2:57pm):
Bad Apples ruin ASM. ie. the minority slates.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 3:58pm):
9:48am
That's a pretty optimistic look at the economics of the ASM bus pass. Sure, it does allow students to disperse further. But one could also argue that a closer grouping of students would encourage a greater housing supply as rental companies chase excess profits, bringing rental costs back in check.
Additionally, on the flip side, the decision to move far off campus might have significant negative utility for some students. Certainly, there is something to be said for experiencing college right in the thick of things, as opposed to a surrounding community.
I'm not saying these considerations are fact. However, I do think they illustrate your hypothetical was far from a bright red Q.E.D.
That said, I think the BH has a point - $55 per student to ASM bus pass? That's a pretty hefty subsidy for a program of questionable value.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 6:29pm):
3:48 pm,
I have two issues with your hypothesis of additional housing supply coming online in the wake of an eliminated bus pass. First, in a capital-intensive business such as housing, additional supply requires a massive investment in resources and time. The profit margin gained by adjusting rents is bigger and easier as the only expense is repainting the sign outside. Secondly, you assume that additional housing stock is even possible. The city master plan does not call for too much more density than we already have.
So, as I see it (and I admit that this is pure conjecture), the increase in housing stock would not and could not keep up with increased demand caused by a end to the bus pass, necessarily resulting in an increase in near-campus rent.
As far as your other point that the college experience necessitates living in the thick of things, the ASM bus program has no impact on that one way or the other. If you wish to be part of the total college experience, you'll live on Langdon whether or not there's a bus pass. If you prefer quieter evenings and weekends, you'll locate out on Sheboygan. If someone chooses to live in a calmer part of the city, it has no impact on your college experience. It also doesn't apply in our discussion of the economics of bus passes.
So, the bus pass program encourages use of alternate transportation, allows carless students living downtown access to the rest of the city, encourages diverse neighborhoods instead of student ghettos, lessens the need of expensive yet non-taxable parking and roadway infrastructure, and reduces expenses even for those who don't use the bus. I fail to see how all of that is of questionable value.
Anonymous (April 9, 2007 @ 3:45pm):
Seriously, if ASM were to disband some services might be missing for the student body, however, students would have more money to be able to support other groups/organizations/themselves to not only make up for the loss services but have extra also.
-Germain E. Stemme
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
