Pubdate: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 Source: Ubyssey (Canada) Contact: Room 241K, Student Union Bldg., 6138 Student Union Building Boulevard, Vancouver, BC. V6T 1Z2 Fax: (604)822-9279 Accepts LTEs fro Website: http://www.ubyssey.bc.ca/ PASS ON THE POT QUESTION When you vote in the Alma Mater Society (AMS) referendum this week, think about this: of the three questions on the ballot, the one that's generated the most word of mouth (that would be question number three, on the legalisation of marijuana) is by far the least important. A health and dental plan? That's important. Student services? That's important, too. But legalising pot? Yeah, it's important, but this is the wrong time and forum to ask the question. Right now, it's a gimmick. We'd rather talk about the relevant stuff. Last week, we profiled question number one. This week, we're looking at question number two. "The Student Services Fund" is a loose term, but under the broad heading, you'll notice the little things that you use everyday; little things-namely Safewalk, CiTR, and the Aquatic Centre-that could stand to benefit from the $9 tacked on to your tuition. The contributions these organisations make to campus life are inarguable, and Safewalk and CiTR are almost tragically underfunded. Last year, on a campus of over 30,000 students, Safewalk escorted 6000 people. Why so few? Its partly because they don't have the money to pay the volunteer Safewalkers. They need this money. CiTR, meanwhile, broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and their equipment is being held together with paper clips. They need this money, too. As for the Aquatic Centre-well, there doesn't appear to be a plan for the money, for starters; as well, the Aquatic Centre is not an AMS service (it is only partially funded by the AMS); and thirdly, the reason that students get free swims now is that student money built the Aquatic Centre. So the Aquatic Centre is a little iffy. And just where the rest of this student money is headed is murkier than the ballot question suggests. CiTR and the Aquatic Centre's cuts are clearly earmarked for a combined $145,000. But the rest of the money that this fee increase will generate-approximately $125,000-isn't as clearly marked. Instead, it will go into a general fund that student services will be able to petition for money. So you're voting for pretty much every student service, with Safewalk and others just the priority. It would be nice to be able to see where our money is going to go, even if it's only for the short term-it is our money, after all. But still, this isn't money that the student executive will use to pad their office walls; this is money that can be used to directly benefit you. And you know what? If you don't use the services, come next year, you can opt out of the Services Fund. While it's a pity that the apathy on this campus is so ingrained and insurmountable that the only way to get students to the polls is to throw an attention-grabbing-but-meaningless marijuana question into the mix, the end results-at least on this question-are worth it. And it's too bad that the only way to get funding for meaningful services is to package them together without giving students the ability to judge each on their own merits. If good causes like CiTR and Safewalk benefit, then good. But it would be nice if we were given a clearer picture of what it is we're voting for. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart