EDITORIAL: The best policy

Forthright disclosure of theForthright disclosure of theprecise way the UniversityForthright disclosure of theprecise way the Universityspends our General Fee isForthright disclosure of theprecise way the Universityspends our General Fee isthe only acceptable course ofForthright disclosure of theprecise way the Universityspends our General Fee isthe only acceptable course ofaction for administrators.Forthright disclosure of theprecise way the Universityspends our General Fee isthe only acceptable course ofaction for administrators._______________________________ We're surprised this information is not already public knowledge. Students pay upwards of $25,000 per year to the University for tuition, room, board, books and "fees" -- and this figure doesn't include incidentals like laundry, phone calls and trips home. After this hefty outlay, we are owed at least a sketch of how administrators spend our funds, which should be used to maintain and upgrade student services and programs. However, all we can currently review are large, aggregate figures that explain how much, in lump sum, each University division receives each year. And according to the UA, records of these aggregate numbers kept by the Treasurer's Office and Budget Office do not match. We are appalled at this situation, since similar discrepancies on the books of student groups spurred numerous audits and pointed, independent investigation in the not-so-distant past -- and can be grounds for revoking Student Activities Council recognition. In this era of fiscal strain, with government funding decreasing dramatically each year, we understand the importance of frequently reexamining each and every expenditure. But we urge administrators to cooperate now with the clear mandate our elected representatives have expressed -- before budgeting for next academic year is completed, and before priorities are again shuffled in a manner disadvantageous to the people whom the University exists to serve: students.