Letter To The Editor

I was outraged after reading the article about the Student Association executive board receiving the SA Senate's blessing to raise their own stipends to pay for their tuition, (Jan. 29, The Spectrum.) Personally, I find it offensive and rude to the student body that there was no consultation or any information about such a decision released until after the decision had already been made.

I pay my mandatory student activity fee and I feel it's reasonable to expect that my money go to fund activities like Spring Fest and Fall Fest, events that are designed, targeted and implemented to attract and benefit a large amount of the student body. I do not pay my activity fee so that three people can pocket the money.

This stipend increase is unnecessary. An annual stipend of $9,000 is a decent wage for any student to be making, particularly for one that has as many perks as being an SA executive officer. Beyond the money, the enormous amount of power and influence that they have, and the amazing range of contacts they can use later for references on their resumes, should make up for everything else.

Christian Oliver said he fears the decision will "come off as a bit shady," and it's a tough situation to be in, "but that's why we're elected to these positions; to make these tough decisions." First off, the whole process is more than just a bit "shady," and how tough of a situation is it to vote for your own raise? How many people, if asked if they would like to increase their pay, would vote against it? Why was there no mention of an impending vote made to the students? And why will the raise be retroactive, covering last semester, too? Retroactive payments are as "shady" as it gets. Awarding such a free ride to these three students undermines the fact that there are still thousands of other full-time students who, after a full day of classes, go and work another five or six hours a day just so they can continue to attend school here. If Oliver thinks he'd be better off at Burger King if he was in it "for the money," then he should go there; I think they're hiring.

I've started an online petition, which, after the deadline, will be sent off to the SA Senate for their consideration. I encourage UB students to voice their opinion on the matter at www.petitiononline.com/saraise/. Add your name, add comments and pass the idea along. If the students decide it is appropriate for the SA e-board to pay for their tuition using our student activity funds, then fine, but let the students decide.