A Broad Coalition

I would like to introduce myself as RepBast1984, the newest member of the team to Abolish the ASUC, and hopefully as a moderate reformer who would like to see change and, if that isn't possible, abolition. I have worked for the ASUC in campaigns for a number of years and have made many friends in the walls of Eshleman Hall. However, I realized that campaigning for the ASUC meant endless promises and little action. As a moderate reformer I hope to create a broad coalition.

I would like to introduce some reasons why I think the ASUC should be reformed or abolished:
1) The executive offices, the administration and the Graduate Assembly take 2/3 of the student fees; only 1/3 of the student fees are given to student groups. Many groups have to grovel on the ground for money even though they themselves have already paid their dues.

2) Many student groups are overfunded, sometimes due to the representation of the Senate. Greeks and Underrepresented minority groups get a disproportionate amount of funding, and SUPERB gets $130,000 which will inevitably be wasted.

3) The ASUC senators and executives rarely, if ever come through with campaign promises. They are not held accountable for their promises (what happens if they don't come through? Most don't even run for a second term). Remember CalTV proposed over 2 years ago? It was supposed to be a project done in 2003-2004 as a TV station but instead, two years later, it became a website with video clips, something even an advantageous president could accomplish in a year.

4) The ASUC is not an independent organization. It is at the whim of the University and automatically takes $55 from every student. This needs to be reformed.

The ASUC needs reform and if it cannot be reformed it should be abolished. The students should have ultimate say over their funding and they deserve better.