Senate supports project
Vote would result in referendum for Davies Center renovations
Nathaniel Shuda
Issue date: 2/9/06 Section: Campus News
In a 23-1 vote, Student Senate decided Monday to lend its support to the Davies Center Development Project, a plan to renovate the building through a gradual increase in student fees.
In a discussion that lasted more than an hour, several senators voiced concern that the data showing strong student support for the project came from what some called "an unreliable source."
Student Senator Jacob Boer, the only voting member of Senate who did not support the resolution, said he would rather take more time to see the results of another referendum than rely on an online survey.
"Why did we go referendum, referendum, survey?" he said. "I don't think a survey is as legitimate as a referendum."
A referendum that passed in 2000 raised student fees by up to $38 a semester to renovate Davies Center. However, a second referendum was needed because organizers didn't think the total increase would generate enough funding for the project.
A second referendum, in 2003, to increase the amount fees to $102 a semester failed by a 78 percent margin.
Former Davies Exploratory Committee chairwoman De Anna Breault strongly opposed holding another referendum, saying that the issue of whether or not to have a referendum instead of a survey should have been discussed when Senate voted on it earlier in the process.
"Students are tired of giving their input," she said. "What you did previously is already done. You chose to go with the survey. It's done; it's over with."
President Aaron Olson, who temporarily stepped down as chairman in order to voice his opinions on the debate, also said that with enough participants to reach a 95 percent confidence level, the survey more accurately represents the views of the entire student population than a referendum.
The proposed renovation project would receive funding through a gradual increase in student fees to a possible total of $125 a year starting in fall 2007.
The committee will make presentations to United Hall Council and University Senate Friday and Tuesday, respectively. If all three bodies approve the project, it will move on to the chancellor's office and eventually to the UW Board of Regents.
Senate also passed a resolution 18-5-1 in opposition to a state assembly bill that would ban same-day voting registration as well as extend the required residence period from 10 to 14 days.
In a discussion that lasted more than an hour, several senators voiced concern that the data showing strong student support for the project came from what some called "an unreliable source."
Student Senator Jacob Boer, the only voting member of Senate who did not support the resolution, said he would rather take more time to see the results of another referendum than rely on an online survey.
"Why did we go referendum, referendum, survey?" he said. "I don't think a survey is as legitimate as a referendum."
A referendum that passed in 2000 raised student fees by up to $38 a semester to renovate Davies Center. However, a second referendum was needed because organizers didn't think the total increase would generate enough funding for the project.
A second referendum, in 2003, to increase the amount fees to $102 a semester failed by a 78 percent margin.
Former Davies Exploratory Committee chairwoman De Anna Breault strongly opposed holding another referendum, saying that the issue of whether or not to have a referendum instead of a survey should have been discussed when Senate voted on it earlier in the process.
"Students are tired of giving their input," she said. "What you did previously is already done. You chose to go with the survey. It's done; it's over with."
President Aaron Olson, who temporarily stepped down as chairman in order to voice his opinions on the debate, also said that with enough participants to reach a 95 percent confidence level, the survey more accurately represents the views of the entire student population than a referendum.
The proposed renovation project would receive funding through a gradual increase in student fees to a possible total of $125 a year starting in fall 2007.
The committee will make presentations to United Hall Council and University Senate Friday and Tuesday, respectively. If all three bodies approve the project, it will move on to the chancellor's office and eventually to the UW Board of Regents.
Senate also passed a resolution 18-5-1 in opposition to a state assembly bill that would ban same-day voting registration as well as extend the required residence period from 10 to 14 days.