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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                        Robyn Morrow             Chris Elliott                        
                                               John Arterbury       Caitlin Cuppernull

Students' voices need to be heard

Student Fee Advisory Committee meetings have come to a close. Unfortunately, few students have taken the chance to voice their concerns to the committee and tell members where they want their hard-earned money to go.

For the past week, members have listened to several student organizations all vying for the funds to continue to serve students. Without student input, though, they cannot make informed decisions about which organizations should receive their requested funding.

Time was allotted for public comment on each day of the hearings, but few people took advantage of this time to let their opinions be known.

Students need to be more involved and concerned with where their money goes.

Vice President for Student Affairs Elwyn Lee, the sole administrator presenting his budget recommendations Monday, offered his opinion on what organizations should get what kind of funding and why. Although SFAC is made up of mostly students, administrators, such as Lee, should have little, if any, influence on the committee's decisions. Though it's Lee's job to represent students' interests, he may not be the best authority on what students want.

Students should have the most say in the process. Students know what they need and what they want. Students are the ones paying these fees. Students are the ones who take part in these organizations and utilize their services.

The committee and the University would be doing a great disservice to the students if it makes its decisions based solely on an administrator's opinions. These recommendations may have an unintended influence that could harm students rather than help them.

Students, take a stand, and let your voices be heard. It's your money and your university. Let SFAC and the administration know what you want.