Yesterday’s letter to the editor concerning the recent refusal to fund OSPIRG (“ACFC shows lack of responsibility for not funding OSPIRG; ASUO should reject decision,” ODE, Feb. 22) was disrespectful not only to the hard work of the Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee but also to the students of the University.
Contrary to Amelie Rousseau et al’s disingenuous claims, the ACFC gave many clear reasons for not funding OSPIRG. It was not, as the letter suggested, that the committee did not see the merit in helping students “solve huge problems in the world.” The ACFC simply saw no merit in OSPIRG’s $117,000 budget request.
The problems with OSPIRG were clearly articulated, and they have been for years. OSPIRG sends student money off campus to pay non-students to lobby for issues that have little relation to the University of Oregon campus. Additionally, OSPIRG’s system is structured in a manner that partial funding would make the organization ineffective and an even greater waste of student dollars.
While saving the world is a noble cause, it is an inappropriate use of the incidental fee — the mandatory tax that all students pay. Many causes are good, such as fighting cancer or homelessness, but should the ASUO tax students for them? And let us also note that many things OSPIRG says it works toward never come to fruition.
After years of open source textbook work, only one professor at the University actually uses them. Textbooks are no cheaper, and students are no better off.
The ACFC ultimately made the responsible decision for students, and we applaud them.
Demic Tipitino
ASUO Senator
Nick Gower
ASUO Senator
Andrew Crampton
ASUO Outreach Coordinator
CJ Ciaramella, Lyzi Diamond, Guy Simmons, Bryanna Torgeson, Drew Cattermole, Dane Carbaugh
University Undergraduates
Slideshow from the Prefontaine Classic
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CJ Ciaramella, Guy Simmons, Bryanna Torgeson, Drew Cattermole, Dane Carbaugh
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Demic Tipitino
- ran with the Oregon Action TeamOver half of the authors of this letter did not participate in the ASUO Elections. Get your facts straight.@ASUO Senator
I think you misunderstand. We never argued that it was wrong in any legal sense: just cause you "can" spend money, doesn't mean you should. We do feel OSPIRG is both an inappropriate use and morally wrong use of the incidental fee; neither require any sort of constitutional interpretation. It's not about the message or issues that OSPIRG supports - denying funding for such reasons would not be viewpoint neutral (and would be constitutionally illegitimate.