Funding for the USG concert comes from Undergraduate Activities Fees, which students and their parents pay under the assumption that the money will be spent on events equally accessible to the entire student body. If the referendum is passed, a portion of this fee will be redirected to the University’s Annual Giving campaign. This effectively forces parents to donate to Annual Giving.
The majority argues that Annual Giving contributions are used to fund a variety of important priorities, such as financial aid and unendowed academic departments. The fruits of these funds, however, are not enjoyed equally by all students. Moreover, donating to Annual Giving should be a choice, not a requirement subject to the whims of one’s classmates. A fairer proposal would be to eliminate the USG Lawnparties concert and decrease the student activities fee accordingly.
This dissent should in no way be construed as unwillingness to make sacrifices in these tough economic times. Had funding for the USG concert come from the University’s general operating budget, it would have been entirely appropriate for the USG to suggest that these funds be spent on more pressing needs. But this isn’t the case. It is not the place of the student body to dictate to parents, many of whom struggle to fund their own child’s education, to fund another’s as well. Forced giving is not giving at all.
— Matthew Halgren ’09, Will Pickering ’11, Amanda Tuninetti ’11
Read the Editorial Board majority opinion here.
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