Senate’s spending does not quench students’ thirst

All of a sudden a sip of water seems to be worth thousands. Either that or a turn of the wrist is. Last Monday, senators voted in favor of allocating a $15,000 budget toward the installation of a handful of water bottle filling stations around campus.

This week Senate approved that 10 stations would be scattered around campus, starting with high priority areas. It’s understandable to place the stations in the high priority areas, such as the Student Center, NPAC, and the High Rise basement. Some of the lower priority areas, such as Edna Hall, Old Admin, and Math and Science, are questionable.

Furthermore, what separates the water bottle stations from drinking fountains is that it’s easier to fill bottles and jugs, which is great, but doesn’t necessitate $15,000 for 10 stations. The allocation’s passing is questionable because the demand for the stations does not appear high. Indeed, nearly half of the Senators opposed the measure, but clearly not enough could stop it.

While it is likely there is some demand from students who want a more convenient way to fill their water bottles, are we REALLY we that lazy? Is it really that difficult to hold a water bottle over a drinking fountain, or to walk into a bathroom and fill it up there?

It is easy to fill water bottles in fountains, and while it is admittedly inconvenient to fill a gallon jug at a water fountain, the convenience gained does not justify $15,000. Although there are some benefits to these stations, we question whether it is worth spending that much money for something many students may not use.