New DSG referendum is worthwhile

To call the new Duke Student Government referendum "fiscally irresponsible" is ridiculous.

Here we have a DSG who is very aware of the current financial situation. Duke's funding of student groups is lacking for two key reasons: There are more groups than ever on campus, and costs for these groups are higher. In the last ten years, Duke has seen the number of student groups sharply increase, without ever adding a single undergraduate. Therefore, every student group gets a smaller piece of the pie. Second, costs of products and services are higher. These two phenomena tax the system and make it so student groups are struggling.

At least 60 percent of the new referendum will go to student groups in the first year (and this will increase after we've purchased the three DSG projects). This money for student groups is necessary. Last year, Hoof 'n' Horn received money for 50 percent of a sewing machine, simply because the funds had run out. This money is not going to DSG. It is going to the annual budgets of student groups as well as the programming fund. In short, raising the student activities fee helps all students through these groups. Student groups have a valuable niche on campus. They perform and entertain, facilitate discussions, play athletics and publish magazines. Additionally, the right to join any of these groups is an entitlement granted to every Duke student.

The new referendum has sound legislation behind it-how much of the money is going where. It's interesting that no one is decrying the spending of the Duke University Union, who receives just as much money and is completely independent, with committees deciding what students want. DSG transparently allocates money to student groups for what they clearly need, and there is no better way to spend this money than on the groups themselves.

Jared Blau

Trinity '10

President, Hoof 'n' Horn