After months of printing green t-shirts, pinning campaign buttons, publishing ads in newspapers and pressing students for their support, advocates of the Student Union Initiative have only one thing left to do: Hold their breath and hope that students will cast a vote in favor of the plan.
We are right there with you, SUI proponents. This editorial board endorsed the initiative when it first appeared on the Associated Students of Madison ballot last spring, and on the eve of Wednesday's vote we reaffirm unwavering support.
The initiative asks students to make a reasonable financial sacrifice today for union improvements and services available to all faculty, students and alumni for years to come. Initially, the project will add $48 per semester to students' segregated fees and will rise to $96 after two years.
Lest the sum sounds burdensome, consider the benefits of investing in the union: Segregated fees will fund an increase in meeting space—which will off-set the lack that forced the union to turn away 1,300 student group requests last year—as well as technology upgrades in union facilities, space expansion for large events and improvements in eating facilities.
The fees will also finance a fire-code upgrade and accessibility improvements in Memorial Union while constructing a new, energy-efficient Union South.
Wednesday's ballot will also ask students to vote on Student Labor Action Coalition's Living Wage referendum.
Though the language of the referendum implies a noble goal, it should not deceive students into voting to raise the salaries of SERF-card swipers and ice-cream scoopers to $10.23 per hour.
Chancellor John Wiley already authorized a policy that raises the salaries of limited term employees to $10.23, and students hardly need such an inflated wage.
With the hours to Wednesday and Thursday's vote waning, we hope this endorsement inspires students cast a vote in favor of the SUI. Until then, this board and all the advocates of the plan await the election results with crossed fingers and bated breath.
