(Photo courtesy of UP Marketing & Communications)
By ASUP Executive Board, Guest Commentary -- dorwart11@up.edu -- thompsob11@up.edu -- scally11@up.edu -- whiteh12@up.edu
In 2005, the UP student body passed a resolution creating what we know today as the Capital Improvement Fund (CIF). The CIF, provided exclusively by students, was intended to fund a physical improvement to campus.
Each semester since, ASUP has seen ideas come and go and we believe the CIF no longer fulfills its original purpose.
Rather than waste students' money – your money – on stale project ideas that, quite frankly, the administration should fund.We want to do better for you and future Portland Pilots, we want to invest the money toward a true improvement to student life: abrand new Recreation and Wellness Center.
CIF has always been portrayed as an exciting opportunity, yet none of us pretend to believe a new TV screen or couch makes any real difference in students' experiences. We've seen the process first-hand and we don't see the CIF as an opportunity, but a hindrance to making positive change on campus. We as an Executive Board actually struggle to find one CIF idea worth students' money. That is why we want to divert the funds toward a new Howard Hall.
It's bold, it's ambitious, we know that, but the time is now.
We've seen Howard Hall at the very top of students' wish lists for many years. It's time we finally address students' needs. Each one of us was elected for our proven experience of addressing student concerns, and we're committed to continuing to fight for all students.
The RISE campaign has already fundraised one-third of the money UP needs for a new Recreation and Wellness Center. This is an exciting time, and we're looking to put your money toward a worthy cause. RISE hopes to have all the money fundraised in three years, and once this is complete, the CIF can go back to the way it is now.
A new Howard Hall has been in the works for years but has been put on the back burner. Directing the CIF to help fund Howard Hall shows students' priorities and sends a clear message to the administration and donors: We want a new Howard Hall!
To be sure, none of us will be able to benefit from a new Howard, but we need to be more forward thinking, while simultaneously looking back on our own experience and realizing how it was incomplete. We're in the midst of an exciting RISE campaign and we can work for the future in collaboration with students, donor, and administration.
In fact, other schools have started the same kind of student-funded initiatives such as Oregon State, University of Oregon and Portland State. Clearly, students recognize a recreation center won't build itself and students are willing to put dollars toward an important piece of the student life puzzle.
On Feb. 14 at 4:30p.m. in Shiley Hall 301, the ASUP Senate will vote on a resolution that directs money toward a desperately overdue new Howard Hall. We are challenging you to contact your senators and let them know you want a new Howard Hall.
We know the CIF is not doing your $70 any justice and we'll be the first to admit it. We know we can do better, and we will do better if Resolution 11-03 passes. This is our duty: to leave UP better than we found it. This is what countless students have wanted for over 25 years, and we need your help to make it happen. United we can build a better UP.
ASUP Executive Board 2010-2011. Colin Dorwart (dorwart11@up.edu), Ben Thompson (thompsob11@up.edu), Katie Scally (scally11@up.edu), Hillary White (whiteh12@up.edu), Hillary Burrelle (burrelle11@up.edu).
