Letters to the Editor

The majority of USG members are sheep. The majority of members do not want conflict or debate over the important issues, yet happily promote on-campus golf courses and other ridiculous measures. The recent overturn of Comptroller Jason Ortiz's responsible decision to veto practice paint funding is nothing to be shocked about. As a former member of funding board, I remember how Paintball's funding was grandfathered in under the guise of precedent. It should not have been passed in the fall in the first place. Paintball does little (if any) fundraising. Comptroller Ortiz is to be commended for his attempt to restore fiscal responsibility during a time of financial turmoil.

- Jesse Glick UConn alumnus, class of 2008 Redondo Beach, Calif.

I write in response to the editorial that ran on Feb. 25 discussing the recent show of imprudence by the USG in overturning the veto of UConn Paintball Club funding. I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of this debacle as the USG shirking its duty in the most difficult of economic times. Perhaps the student body and the university as a whole would be in a much better financial position if all of our USG representatives were replaced with members of The Daily Campus' editorial board. It goes without saying that these recent actions demonstrated "financial mismanagement and irresponsibility" and "a wanton disregard for the financial interest of the student body." While no one disputes the fact that the UConn Paintball Club has been successful in its own endeavors, it's hard for a student at one of the most expensive public universities in the country to equate this success with approximately $12,000 in funding. All students at UConn should be struggling with this issue, especially in a time where foreclosures are through the roof, unemployment grows by the day, the cost of goods rises exponentially, and people are continually working harder and earning less. In light of these trying times, we all have to make some sacrifices and concessions. I nominate the UConn Paintball Club and USG to make them first.

- David Thibodeau 3rd-semester chemistry major

This letter is regarding USG's recent decision to override Jason Ortiz's veto. Jason Ortiz was elected by the student body with the trust that he would responsibly monitor the funding board's expenditures. It has become abundantly clear, by listening to the chatter on campus this week, that the student body agrees with Mr. Ortiz's veto. A $12,000 expenditure for 20 students to buy what I can only assume are platinum covered paintballs is grossly unjustified. That same money could be used to fund more than a dozen other programs, reaching hundreds or thousands of students. I remain confused as to why our senators would override Mr. Ortiz's veto. Senators, which of your constituents could have possibly supported this extravagant indulgence? The job of the Comptroller is to monitor the actions of the funding board. When an organization comes to the funding board asking for $12,000 for a ridiculous expenditure on the lowest-priority classification, what is possibly running through their collective head? When our senators absentmindedly rubber-stamp these requests, what are they thinking? It seems that the only accountability left in USG is Jason Ortiz and the 12 senators who voted to support his veto. I wonder, in what way does our student government represent us? To the general student body, the student government looks impotent, fractured and generally incapable of making intelligent or relevant decisions. It would be nice if USG would give us a single reason to justify their continued existence. At the very least, can I just have my student fee money back? I'm perfectly capable of flushing it down the toilet myself.

- Andrew Wicks 8th-semester political science and economics double major