Why I am supporting the CERF referendum

If you know anything about me, you probably assumed that this would be a no-brainer. It wasn't. I have wrestled with the issue for a week now. At one point, I was absolutely convinced that I would vote against this referendum. I simply didn't see how you could justify increasing the student activity fee by $10 to fund something that is not a student activity.

But today, I am proud to announce my support for this referendum. If you are still on the fence, allow me just a moment to explain my reasoning.

First off, the referendum doesn't actually call for an increase in the student activity fee (as some opponents have suggested), but rather an increase in "student fees." It would therefore stand to reason that, if implemented, this $10 fee would be applied separately, just like, say, the $65 fee we are charged for Jacobs Fitness Center. If you want to get really upset about fees, where is the outrage over the $73.50 we pay in student activity fees, much of which is wasted by the student government? The SG has a budget of around $600,000, yet when was the last time we had a concert in Bender? How was the Founder's Day Ball this year? Who was the last big speaker that KPU brought to campus?

Despite this large chunk of money, the SG refused to contribute any of it to CERF, despite the fact that it is an SG initiative. Steve Dalton refutes the point that CERF has anything to do with the SG, but I must respectfully disagree with the lion on this one. CERF was created by Andy MacCracken (President) and Drew Veysey (Director of Env. Policy), both of whom are in the SG. It was also initially supported by a bill that was passed in the Undergraduate Senate (which I co-sponsored). Had the SG not refused to fund its own program, this referendum might not have been necessary. Drew, and others (especially Eco-Sense), have done a great job of raising funds so far. But the faster we can get the funding for CERF going, the faster it can start being an asset to our school.

Opponents are also quick to cry foul at any increase to the already outrageously high cost of attending American University. To them, I say politely: It is ten fucking dollars. I understand that it is more about principal, but $10 is nothing compared to the other fees that we are paying. I am not one of those spoiled, rich AU kids. But anybody that can afford to be here can afford another $10 on top of their tuition, especially if it means helping our campus become more sustainable. Ultimately, that is what CERF will do, and that will make our school more respectable, and thus make your degree more valuable.

We have a great opportunity to send a message that our campus is committed to protecting our economic security, national security, and our planet. If you support a future that is powered by something other than fossil fuels, it is essential that you vote for the CERF referendum tomorrow.