Though it’s true that the goals of the Promoting Understanding and Learning through Service and Education referendum are only temporary solutions to the long-term problem of nonexistent state financial support for outreach and retention programs, to vote against this proposal would prove detrimental to the missions of two UCSD organizations: the Academic Success Program and the Student Initiated Outreach and Recruitment Commission.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has left outreach funding out of his budget for three straight years, hindering the growth and services of both A.S.P. and SIORC. Next year, an umbrella office for the two programs – to be called the Student Promoted Access Center for Education and Service – will open. But without the essential funding, the offices will remain without necessary support staff.
Both programs are dedicated to improving the UCSD community, but due attention must be given to the programs to correctly foster their growth.
A.S.P. currently offers free books through a popular lending program, offers extensive exam archives for student use and provides periodic “”study jams”” complete with free blue books and food.
SIORC, on the other hand, provides college-preparation education and outreach to local high school students through conferences, an overnight program and summer activities. In addition to housing both programs, S.P.A.C.E.S. will also provide a forum for student organizations to collaborate on community service projects.
The referendum would require undergraduates to pay an additional $7 per quarter – of which $1 would go toward A.S.P., $1 would go toward SIORC, $3 would go toward S.P.A.C.E.S. and $2 would return to the student body as financial aid – to the current campus activity fee of $21.
Asking undergraduates to pay an extra $21 per year for outreach and retention is nowhere near an unfair or unrealistic request.
UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA and UC Santa Cruz have already implemented programs similar to S.P.A.C.E.S. and UCLA students passed a referendum very similar to P.U.L.S.E. over a decade ago. It’s time for UCSD students to do the same.
