An Argument in Favor of ASUN

I suppose I would be lumped into the stupid category. The funding policies are based largely on trust; the trust that the club leaders on our campus will make responsible choices and not waste funds on events that aren’t meaningful. Perhaps a better word to describe me is naïve. I genuinely believe that most club leaders on this campus believe in what they’re doing and think that they are putting the money to a good cause. And to tell you the truth, I would rather be naïve and end up disappointed than think that every club leader on campus is too dishonest to be trusted with funding. However, as usual, I could be wrong.
I wouldn’t really describe myself as pissed off either. I believe firmly that a government is meant to serve its constituents. If the campus wants to burn ASUN to the ground then so be it. Who am I to stand in the way the will of the people? However, I think many of you who may be roused by a few people screaming on a soapbox should take the time to ask yourself, “Has ASUN touched my college experience?” If you’ve ever picked up a Sagebrush, gotten a ride from campus escort, had one day where you didn’t have to buy lunch because Flipside provided it for you, the answer to that question is yes.
It seems that a majority of your arguments apply to only one section of the ASUN and less than 10% of the overall budget-Clubs and Organizations. It would seem wise to discredit everything that ASUN does if you wish to abolish the whole institution. A few points to consider:
1. Where will all of the money go? The fee is a university student activities fee that is given to the ASUN. I find it highly unlikely, especially considering the current economic situation that this money will simply be given back to the students. More likely is that the university will simply reallocate the money and spend it on activities that they deem are appropriate, entirely removing student input.
2. Where will the profits from the ASUN Bookstore go?
3. What will happen to all of the services that we provide: campus escort, wolf pack radio, nevada sagebrush, brushfire, inkblot etc.
4. What will happen to the 100 student employees that are currently paid by ASUN?
5. Who will take over managing student organizations? The university does not have the resources it needs to effectively manage over 100 organizations. We have professional full-time staff to deal with clubs and organizations; the university does not have the resources to hire someone to fill this position. Will we simple get rid of university recognized organizations, except for fraternities, sororities and club sports, which the university already handles to some degree?
6. Who will be the voice of the student body? Will Chancellor Klaich be expected to hold a town hall meeting on campus and simply hope that enough people will show up and are informed enough to make meaningful comments?
7. Who will pick up the slack in terms of campus programming? Most of the events on campus that are held free of charge to students are put on by Flipside productions: will we simply have no movie series, limited campus speakers, no coffee and a concert series, no howl at the moon, no Friday festival, no welcome back week, no homecoming, and no reason to come to school except for classes?

© Barry Belmont for UNR Students for Liberty, 2010.
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