Editor:

This is in response to Brian Johnson’s column, “Is ASUU wasting your money?” As a former cabinet member last year, I saw these apparent “perks” that were beholden upon us. The “perks” aren’t that great and the retreats and conferences were necessary and invaluable. Every student group I have been a part of on this campus has retreats and conferences that the organization pays for.

Student leaders attend workshops such as team builders and get to know your fellow student leaders in a setting outside of business.

There is a deep misconception that ASUU is this land of many perks and advantages. This perception is merely an oasis. The money isn’t great for the number of hours that are put in, you get tuition hours that don’t equal the time spent working rather than studying and the praise for work well-done is very minimal.

Students that work in ASUU’s cabinet do not do it for the money, they do it because they are passionate about the university and passionate about making it better while they are here.

Don’t forget that these students are working for you at a minimal cost. The percentage of student fees that go to retreats and conferences is at most a dollar a student, which isn’t even a blip on the overall ASUU budget. And that dollar is spent to make the campus life better for all 28,000 students, not just those that attend cabinet retreats or ULC-like conferences.

Many students feel that the $15,000 (approximately $0.52 per student) that was spent last year on United Leadership Conference was a waste. Conferences, like ULC, are essential to uniting our divided student body.

By inviting elected and motivated student leaders from every corner of campus, ASUU is starting to bridge the gaps that are ingrained in our student body.

If conferences like these help make an improvement to the campus life, then the $0.52 that I paid when I was a student for ULC was well spent.

If you can find a more productive way to spend $0.52 per student to not just improve communication among student leaders, but start to bridge the gaps of campus life at the university, don’t complain-make your voice heard and suggest it. Those in ASUU aren’t opposed to hearing what the students want.

Marcus Lopez

Alumnus 2003