Student Senate wants to burn up your money

The CSC Student Senate receives, from the students, about $200,000 each academic year. Senate can do whatever they wish with that money – they can spend it on the most ridiculous event or the greatest idea.

Senators have for years debated using those student funds for construction of a fire pit on campus. The most recent proposal for this project will cost students up to $158,500.

As of now, Senate already spent $4,000 for architectural renderings of the fire pit and plans to hear input from students about the project details before proceeding.

As a liberal arts senator, I have an obligation to share the full details – disclosed and undisclosed – with students of this campus before we take any more of your money for the project.

First, the fire pit will not be easily accessible to all students: located just south of The Hub, Edna and Eagle Ridge residents will be forced to walk across campus to have any access. Off-campus students will have to drive across town and subject themselves to restrictive campus rules to use the pit.

All users will then be required to ask permission from RAs or campus security before using the fire pit; which begs the question, why should students have to ask permission from staff to use something they paid for and supposedly have control over?

Well, this fire pit will not actually be student property; upon receipt of senate paying for the project, CSC administration will necessarily gain full ownership rights of the fire pit. Essentially, Student Senate will be donating the $158,500 dollar project to the school.

Second, that high cost should frustrate any frugal-minded individual; it’s a shame to see young adults wasting money like our larger taxpayer funded governments.

Indeed, there are certain costs associated with constructing a new project, but this is a measly fire pit. For the price, I could buy a nice house in Chadron and have money left over to invite the whole class over for smores in my backyard.

There are other alternatives to the fire pit that would distribute money across campus to impact more students. For example, lets put a few propane grills at each residence hall (I hear you can get one for under $200 at Walmart); let’s put some smaller propane fire pits along with those grills – and while we’re at it; let’s add some hot dogs, buns and smores to our school food pantry!

When Student Government is working to make campus a better place for all students, they’re doing their job; unfortunately, some on senate are instead worried about “leaving their mark on campus.”

They should be more concerned with leaving a mark within student minds that campus was a fun, enjoyable place for them.

These larger projects are neat ideas, but they steal too much time, money and attention from Student Senate’s agenda: Working to make campus better for all students.

It’s time to ask your senator to turn the remaining project over to CSC administration, who will eventually own the project anyways.

Tell Student Senate that our campus doesn’t need the expensive fire pit.