Dear Friends,
On Oct. 29, 2009, a motion to purchase eight recycling bins for academic buildings was presented to student senate. I passionately argued for the purchase of the recycling bins via the utilization of student reserve account funds. The money in the student reserve fund is comprised of unused student activity fees from the past. As such, it is only just to spend that money on items students demand and demands that align with the mission statement of Drake University. In this circumstance, students demanded the purchase of eight recycling bins that correlate with Drake’s mission statement of “responsible global citizenship.” This made perfect sense to me.
So, why did I cast my vote against the purchase of eight recycling bins? I voted no because eight bins are not enough to satisfy the demands and needs of students in leading Drake toward a more environmentally friendly campus. Even though the administration has now invested funds to purchase the eight requested recycling bins, I strongly urge students to demand more bins from Senate. With the current 12 bins plus the eight additional bins the administration will now purchase, we will only have 20 bins total. This is not enough, especially when there is money to spend on such items. Student fees are student money. Therefore, the well-informed demands of students always gain my attention and my support.
As always, please contact me anytime you see me around campus, or send me an e-mail. I’m always looking for student input. This is your money; show us how to spend it!
– TYLER COE, Junior
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Dear Editor,
On Nov. 3, Student Body President Ben Olson sent a deceptive, dishonest e-mail to student organization presidents. The message responded to protests made by students after Student Senate rejected a measure to fund eight new recycling bins on campus. Olson said that the measure would have been an inappropriate use of student funds, since the bins are a capital expenditure. Olson also said, “In this case, the university had already agreed to purchase the remaining eight recycling bins before the motion was brought to Student Senate.”
The university, in reality, agreed to pay for the bins only after Student Senate rejected the measure. This means that Olson intentionally deceived students. Even if Drake had agreed to pay for the bins before the meeting, Olson would have wasted Student Senate’s and students’ time by allowing deliberations to proceed at the Oct. 29, meeting. In reality, since Drake only agreed to pay for the bins after the meeting, Olson lied to Drake’s student organization leaders.
Olson should remember that Student Senate, like all government, is intended to be transparent and serve its constituents. By deceiving the student body in this manner, Olson fulfilled neither of these goals and abandoned his responsibility. I have lost my trust in Olson to effectively and honestly carry out his duties. If actions like this continue, I’m sure more students will feel as I do.
– DANNY AKRIGHT, Senior
