PASS ON THE POT QUESTION

When you vote in the Alma Mater Society (AMS) referendum this week, think
about this: of the three questions on the ballot, the one that's generated
the most word of mouth (that would be question number three, on the
legalisation of marijuana) is by far the least important. A health and
dental plan? That's important. Student services? That's important, too. But
legalising pot? Yeah, it's important, but this is the wrong time and forum
to ask the question. Right now, it's a gimmick.

We'd rather talk about the relevant stuff. Last week, we profiled question
number one. This week, we're looking at question number two.

"The Student Services Fund" is a loose term, but under the broad heading,
you'll notice the little things that you use everyday; little things-namely
Safewalk, CiTR, and the Aquatic Centre-that could stand to benefit from the
$9 tacked on to your tuition.

The contributions these organisations make to campus life are inarguable,
and Safewalk and CiTR are almost tragically underfunded. Last year, on a
campus of over 30,000 students, Safewalk escorted 6000 people. Why so few?
Its partly because they don't have the money to pay the volunteer
Safewalkers. They need this money. CiTR, meanwhile, broadcasts 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, and their equipment is being held together with
paper clips. They need this money, too.

As for the Aquatic Centre-well, there doesn't appear to be a plan for the
money, for starters; as well, the Aquatic Centre is not an AMS service (it
is only partially funded by the AMS); and thirdly, the reason that students
get free swims now is that student money built the Aquatic Centre. So the
Aquatic Centre is a little iffy.

And just where the rest of this student money is headed is murkier than the
ballot question suggests. CiTR and the Aquatic Centre's cuts are clearly
earmarked for a combined $145,000. But the rest of the money that this fee
increase will generate-approximately $125,000-isn't as clearly marked.
Instead, it will go into a general fund that student services will be able
to petition for money. So you're voting for pretty much every student
service, with Safewalk and others just the priority. It would be nice to be
able to see where our money is going to go, even if it's only for the short
term-it is our money, after all.

But still, this isn't money that the student executive will use to pad
their office walls; this is money that can be used to directly benefit you.
And you know what? If you don't use the services, come next year, you can
opt out of the Services Fund.

While it's a pity that the apathy on this campus is so ingrained and
insurmountable that the only way to get students to the polls is to throw
an attention-grabbing-but-meaningless marijuana question into the mix, the
end results-at least on this question-are worth it.

And it's too bad that the only way to get funding for meaningful services
is to package them together without giving students the ability to judge
each on their own merits. If good causes like CiTR and Safewalk benefit,
then good. But it would be nice if we were given a clearer picture of what
it is we're voting for.