WSA Wants a Tax Increase

The Western Student Association is discussing whether to raise the Student Assessment Fee (SAF). The student body will vote on whether to raise the SAF during the next WSA election. This vote would not be binding, but it could be influential with the Board of Trustees, which will have the final say.

The SAF is currently twelve dollars per student per year. The proposal on the ballot is to raise it by nine dollars to twenty-one dollars per student per year.

The proposal would also guarantee money to sports and clubs.

The Western Herald (of course) supports the proposal. They argue

The only harm that can be found in the increased fee is $9 a semester. It's $9 for 15 weeks - buy one less meal at Qdoba, go to one less movie with popcorn and a soda, buy one less six-pack of Bell's and you'll make up the difference in one night. The increase benefits students and the university as a whole in a wide variety of ways. Support the increase, and take advantage of it by attending and participating in student activities and events.

What if students want to keep their nine dollars? What if they'd rather go to Qdoba or a movie? Why should they have to spend their money on SAF-funded events? If the increase is so little, why doesn't the Herald pay my share, too?

The WSA is an incredible waste of money. It spends plenty of money on t-shirts and various knick-knacks to promote its own existence. It spends money sending members to worthless student government conferences. Then there are the events it funds. A few do manage to attract students, but many also spend money on speakers few people see.

What about sports? Why should the WSA fund events that only benefit a few people? At least speakers theoretically benefit the whole campus, since plenty of students can go to them. Why should the WSA fund people's hobbies? If someone likes to collect coins or travel to Europe, should the WSA pay for it?

Before anyone accuses the College Republicans of 'hypocrisy' for funding our events with SAF money, remember that we didn't create this system. The WSA collects a fixed amount of money every year. It will spend the same amount of money whether or not we get any. At least our events attract plenty of people and spur discussion on campus.

With the state of Michigan and sundry local governments raising taxes, the student government apparently wants in on the act. This proposal should be rejected.