I am opposed to House Bill 2400 not because I am pro MassPIRG but because I base my decisions on the interests of the students. If we all look at only the merits of the bill, and suspend judgment on everything else, almost all of us would conclude that the bill proposes a more mindful system for students. However, as a Student Senator I feel an obligation to look at all sides of HB2400. It is not a fallacious argument to state that our democratic right to choose what is best for us is at stake with this bill. Why on earth would students impose fees on themselves? It is because students are not being cheated and robbed by an opt-out fee. Students have two opportunities to avoid being charged a fee. Every two years, a referendum question dealing with this issue is presented to students. They can either choose a waivable (opt-out) fee or they may decide not to be assessed at all. The second opportunity students have is when they get their bill. Although every student is charged automatically, it is clearly written in the bill that it is waivable. Thus, it is wrong to say that students are being robbed by the current system, when in actuality it is the STUDENTS who voted for this current system.

The students of UMass are not clueless and helpless. On the contrary, the students I’ve met here are hardworking, street-smart people. Although one can argue that students are being penalized when they forget to waive the fees, this is unfortunately a fact of life. When we forget to do anything, such as our homework, buying gifts to our loved ones on their birthday, or putting gas in our cars before taking off on the highway, we pay the consequences. It is unfortunate that some students forget to waive the fee and therefore are assessed $16. However, I am confident that most of our fellow students in this university know what they are doing. We should leave it up to them to decide what is best.

The organizations at UMass Boston that will be affected by this bill are MassPIRG and The Mass Media. Whether I believe that MassPIRG and The Mass Media are beneficial to this University is not as relevant as the opinion of the students. Although I can see why people would support HB2400, I am opposed to it because it proposes a system that would not best serve the student’s interests. HB2400 would limit the choice of students. I want to make it clear that I do not advocate on behalf of MassPIRG. I advocate on behalf of the interests of the students. I don’t blame MassPIRG for trying to lobby Senators. Their organization is at stake. Also, I believe all senators should keep an open mind by listening to both sides of the debate.

Keep in mind that MassPIRG is a very influential organization outside of campus. Some of the things they do that affects students are increasing voting turnout, exposing credit card scams, sponsoring leadership seminars, exposing spring break ads scams, etc. These are some of the issues that MassPIRG works on and clearly has a positive effect on the students. Every influential entity, no matter how philanthropic its purpose, is not without enemies. There are a lot of people that would be happy to see MassPIRG gone. Using history to support this view, we can point out that the goal to get rid of MassPIRG started when it was clear that MassPIRG had become an effective organization. The Legislature abolished the mandatory fee in 1982 after MassPIRG won its victory of the bottle bill. I can’t help but imagine how convenient it is to the enemies of MassPIRG to have a system that effectively reduces the effectiveness of MassPIRG while disguised as a system for students. An opt-in fee will prohibit MassPIRG from effectively doing all its projects. It will be less effective. Even if students believe it is worthwhile to have it on campus, most people are free riders, meaning they would not pay for something they’ll get for free. With an opt-in system you’d be limiting the choice of the students in the referendum question. Opt-in fee does not support MassPIRG and the other choice is to not be assessed a fee. Neither one supports MassPIRG, therefore students are given only one option. For the enemies of MassPIRG, this system is great since MassPIRG loses funding either way. They would’ve had their cake and eat it too by not only reducing the influence of MassPIRG but also having a bill conveniently disguised as being mindful of students. What I am most concerned about are the students. They also lose because they would’ve been stripped of their rights to choose whether or not to support MassPIRG.

I urge everyone to look at the BIG PICTURE. Look at the consequences of the bill and the possible intentions of the people who created it. Look at the merits and the flaws, and use this knowledge to formulate your judgment. This spring, a referendum question affecting MassPIRG and The Mass Media will be put forward to the students. I urge everyone to participate and let your voices be heard.

Reuben Urmeneta, Jr.Budget & Finance ChairUndergraduate Student Senate