By The Beacon Editorial Board
?The Green Fund?
Although well-intentioned, the initiative for the Green Fund is misguided. The amount of money that is asked for warrants responsible, planned spending. There is no specific strategy for using the money that encourages sustainability.
Instead, the green fund is conditional on someone - anyone - coming forward with a good enough idea to warrant funding, and $70,000 over the course of year is a lot of money for half of a plan.
Furthermore, there are many cost-free actions that the campus community can take to reduce our energy consumption. Turning off computers or switiching off the lights in campus buildings saves energy without the school spending extra money.
In addition, tacking the green fee onto tuition without giving students the option to opt out removes the element of choice.
The movement for a more sustainable and economically responsible civilization should be motivated by a sense of obligation toward our community and our planet, not because of a legislative requirement.
People should want to go green. This is true from the level of school right on up to the greater evironmental movement.
?ASUP's endowment
We support ASUP's goals to be more responsible with its money.
The system as it is now, where all the money that went unspent by student groups was placed into a carryover fund, is inneficient and sloppy.
The endowment will create a savings plan for ASUP that allows them to save for the future, a far cry from the cavalier "use it or lose it" spending system present now.
A better savings system will allow for more flexibility in planning events or funding clubs. A stable, organized savings plan is an investment in the future of UP that is well worth the money and your vote.
?President and vice president
The Beacon editorial board was unable to reach a majority concensus over a candidate for president and vice president. Because of this, the editorial bord will not endorse any candidates for the upcoming election.
We hope, however, that next year's president, vice president and ASUP Executive Board will be responsible stewards of the student government.
?Take it to the polls
Last year's executive elctions had a record-high turn out. The University community should be proud to have such an engaged student body. Care should be taken, however, to guard against complacency.
Participation on behalf of the citizenry is crucial to the function of a democracy. Social responsibility is a habit like anything else, you've got to practice it before you are able to take an active, informed part.
This election, although it might only affect this campus, has implications that will be felt for years to come.
