by Wendy J. Allyn

Membership in a national student lobbying group may benefit SIUC, but $18,000 to join is too costly, members of an Undergraduate Student Government task force say.

At a special USG senate meeting last night, the task force recommended that membership with the United States Student Association be restricted to about $1,000 and a one-year contract by the USG Senate.

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The task force reached its decision after reviewing the posibilities of USSA membership and its proposed $18,000 contract for more than a month. In a formal report, task force members stated discrepancies in USSA organization, platform policies, and financial status as reasons for their recommendation. They also weighed benefits for students against the costs of either a $1,000 or $18,000 membership, Sen. Donald Rehmer said.

If we can’t justify the difference, it’s not a good investment for students, he said.

Rehmer also expressed concern because the task force examined USSA financial records and was alarmed with the findings. The 48-year-old organization showed a $13,457 budget deficit for the last fiscal year.

There’s a group in Washington that can’t balance their own books. We’re not comfortable with that, Rehmer said. I’m against sending that much money off campus when, historically, they’re not responsible with it.

Dan Piper, USG government affairs commissioner, said he is in favor of spending the $18,000 to join USSA, mainly because they advocate educational rights of students. He said USSA has fought for the direct student loan program, which was implemented at SIUC this year.

Piper said USSA represents schools with a high percentage of students receiving financial aid such as SIUC more effectively, and it is not unreasonable for students to pay for a higher level of membership.

The SIUC student body voted by referendum last spring to join USSA. If the senate approves an $18,000 membership, a 50-cent fee increase per student may be enacted to cover the cost. USG President Duane Sherman said if they approve the task force’s recommendation, the $1,000 will come out of USG’s budget without any additional student fee.

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Sen. Maggie Bednar said students were uninformed about what they were voting for. They should have been given the option of the $1,000 or $18,000 memberships when the vote took place, she said.

Some USG members criticized the task force, saying USG has a responsibility because the student vote, to pay the full membership fee. But Sherman said the senate has the power to overrule the referendum in the interest of students.

Just as the senate has the power to impeach, they also have the power to reverse a referendum. It will go to the senate, and they will vote on it, Sherman said.

The senate is expected to vote on the task force recommendation at the senate meeting Wednesday.