OPINION & EDITORIAL
All-Campus Party squanders funding
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Letters to the Editor:
- SSFC stipend appropriate (December 11, 2007)
- Poor plowing cuts off handicapped access (December 10, 2007)
- Cars that actually help the environment (December 10, 2007)
- Organic food: Deliciously safe (December 10, 2007)
- Diversity deserves attention at UW (December 7, 2007)
Related Stories:
- UW's All-Campus Party a success (May 1, 2007)
- Overdue (November 17, 2005)
- A party to praise (April 27, 2004)
- Student rights must be defended (October 15, 2007)
- Separate but viewpoint neutral (April 20, 2006)
by Letters to the Editor
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
March 22, 2007
To UW-Madison Students:
As students of UW-Madison, we pay over $600 a year in segregated fees and we are deeply disappointed that over $25,000 of those fees was granted by ASM (Associated Students of Madison) to fund WASB's (Wisconsin Alumni Student Board) concert for the annual All-Campus Party. This year the concert will take place off campus and will only be able to be seen by approximately 1,300 students, even though all students are funding it. In previous years, All-Campus Party, which was started by ASM and WASB, has held their concert events in large venues on campus such as the Terrace, the Fieldhouse, and the field near the Natatorium. This has enabled a diverse population of students to see the concert and feel that their segregated fees are being spent wisely. This year, however, due to the poor organization and miscommunication from WASB, the majority of students are not going to benefit from this event. WASB has had a year since the popular and well-received Common concert of 2006 to plan for another big name artist and venue. They instead waited until February to start contacting agents for musical artists and applying for funding and grants. One of the largest student programming organizations on campus (Wisconsin Union Directorate) was not asked to be a part of the planning process even though the Music Committee within WUD has brought big name artists to campus, has ample knowledge about working with agents and booking venues, and would have been a great resource for the WASB planners. This reckless spending hurts all future music programming on campus, for artists will expect that all student organizations will be able to pay such large amounts of money. To put this into perspective, WUD's Music Committee could have programmed about six months' worth of concerts for the price that WASB is paying to bring one solo artist to Madison. Again, we express our disappointment with WASB for asking for over $25,000 in segregated fees, and in ASM for granting it, for a concert that is only going to be seen by 1,300 students. We urge you to look into this problem and express concerns and voice your opinion to WASB and ASM so hopefully they will be more responsible with our money and this will not happen again. We hope that next year we will see student dollars being spent wisely for All-Campus Party, and that a concert will be at a large venue on campus with student organization collaboration and input, rather than at a small venue which few people can attend.
Sincerely,
Dylan Heaney, Danielle Lindenberg, Rachelle Stone, and Jayme Zwerling
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 1:32am):
this is the biggest issue ASM/SSFC has with the ACP?
worse happens.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 7:13am):
that is indeed an unworthy and wasteful use of student fees -- good call
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 9:34am):
Sounds to me like WUD is pissed about not being in the spotlight
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 10:16am):
Can anyone truly defend Segregated Fees?
- Germain E. Stemme
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 11:37am):
Did you even know that WUD helped with the previous concerts? Most likely not. This isn't about a spotlight. This is about WASB being irresponsible and not using the resources readily available to them (like the Music Committee that has connections with agents and ample experience booking shows).
And Germain, please just stop talking. You have no clue.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 11:56am):
Soooo, let me get this straight: WUD is ticked because WASB is "squandering" some of the $600 a year we spend on seg fees. Why then did WUD put so much time and effort into passing a referendum that is going to ultimately increase our seg fees another almost $100.
Since when does WUD care about not wasting our money?
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 12:52pm):
The four of you must not have gotten tickets, huh?
WUD is not, and should not, be the end-all-be-all of planning and organizing on campus.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 12:59pm):
Ben Kweller? Seriously, who the hell is this guy? Some hippie bojanga jerkass with a guitar that sings about frisbee, free spirits, and making love in Nebraska
TERRIBLE...NO ONE GO TO SEE THAT AWEFUL EXCUSE FOR A CONCERT
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 3:41pm):
I guess it depends on your definition of waste. If it's spending twenty five grand on a shitty act, then ACP should be criticized. If it's raising segregated fees to improve the student unions for students to use for the next thirty or more years... you're stupid.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 3:42pm):
Sorry, but I'd hardly call the Orpheum on State Street "Off Campus". Sure it's not the union, but walk 5 blocks, or take the bus, and you're there. As long as it's not at the Colliseum....
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 3:51pm):
Quit looking gift horses in the mouth. If you don't want free stuff, don't get it. Seg fees are here to stay, at least with All Campus Party you get something back. Shameless WUD, just shameless.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 4:31pm):
Many of the facts in this article do need to be verified, as I know personally that the Orpheum seats over 1,700 people. I do agree that $25,000 is quite a bit of money to give to any singular event, especially one open to only 1,700 students, but evaluate ACP on a whole and what it provides for students. Although WASB, along with many student orgs on campus, can be criticized this is one positive event celebrating life at UW. Let's be proud.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 4:47pm):
WUD..... jealous much?!
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 5:02pm):
I can't believe WASB would put the concert at the Orpheum Theatre. Having an event that far off campus really makes it hard for all students to attend. I hope the tickets have a map on the back, so the students can find this off campus site, since state st. doesn't run right next to campus. Nice job WASB.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 8:36pm):
When is the last time WUD brought someone as big as Ben Kweller here? And $25,000 is a lot of money, but what about the organizations that receive way more and have way less than 1300 members?
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 9:36pm):
the takeaway message of this article seems less about the squandering of funds and more the lack of collaboration between student groups on campus. both asm and wasb fail in this department despite their mission, directives and their own words. the uw credit union who this concert is apparently presented by is not a student group.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 10:42pm):
Wasn't Rachelle Stone Chair of SSFC last year?
Danielle Lindenberg (April 25, 2007 @ 11:02pm):
This was not meant to be a personal attack on WASB, ACP, ASM, or anyone affiliated with them, nor should it be taken as such. We also DO NOT speak on behalf of WUD, and getting tickets for ourselves is not what worried us. We are simply a group of students who are concerned about the large amount of segregated fees being spent that does not benefit the majority of students. What we hope to achieve is that in the future, the ACP blow-out concert will be what it is meant to be; an event for ALL UW-Madison students.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 11:41pm):
"Ben Kweller? Seriously, who the hell is this guy? Some hippie bojanga jerkass with a guitar that sings about frisbee, free spirits, and making love in Nebraska."
You must have no idea who Ben Kweller is. Although Ben Kweller does suck, and a better singer/band should have been lined up.
Anonymous (April 26, 2007 @ 1:39am):
I can't believe how everyone around here gets so fired up about segregated fees. Swallow it, b**ches! It is what it is -- there will never be absolute consensus about how the money ought be spent.
As for the concert, I agree with the letter to the editor. A campus party concert where only 1300 of the 40k or so students can attend? Thoughtless. Ben Kweller? That's just laziness.
Speaking of the campus party, what was with the bouncy castle and rock wall on Library Mall? Lame. I say next year they go all Rydell High and bring in a carnival! There's enough open space somewhere on campus to do it. Add a Taste of Wisconsin element to it with food stands and beer gardens and you've got yerself a grand old time. Seriously.
Kevin Clarke (April 26, 2007 @ 3:25pm):
It would like to know when was the last time that WUD brought in a national act for the students to enjoy for free. There will never be a concert that satisfies everyone, there will never be a venue that satisfies everyone, and there will never be a venue that could serve everyone. I personally would prefer a few awesome events a year compared to six months of events I never hear about. Seg fees never actually get used in a proportionate amount to how much we each pay individually. You can fault every organization for squandering funds when using your logic, since not everyone actually participates in every event.
Anonymous (April 26, 2007 @ 3:30pm):
By far the poorest show of journalism I've seen in my life. I could go on forever about the inaccuracy of the editorial but i'll stick with the high route. You want to talk about wasting money WUD? What kind of campus organiztion (WUD) in charge of a largely unprofitable operation (the unions) pays their completely worthless members for their completely worthless service?
Also, in my four years here, never has WUD Music Committee brought in an act even half as large as Kweller, and honestly, 6 months of music for $25,000??? Who are they going to bring, Raffi?
WUD, maybe next time lets focus on how you guys could provide a better service for our campus instead of criticizing a group that does more for our campus and community than you could ever hope.
-Thanks for nothing WUD
Anonymous (April 29, 2007 @ 7:41am):
What about Common... Joanna Newsom... Girl Talk...?
All brought in by the music committee. All drawing more than 1300. All free.
Anonymous (April 30, 2007 @ 10:47am):
When students fork out $700+ per year, droping the word "free" is a little hollow.
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.
