The Story Behind a Structural Reorganization
By Marijn Thijs
In the evening of the 9th of March, a General Assembly was held to discuss a major organizational breakthrough that would change UCR on many levels. After earlier developments with regards to the opening and maintaining of our Common House Elliott, and the purchase of a Sports Center during the last academic year, now the Campus Life Fee (CLF) was approved. The CLF is a joint contribution of students to the four big student organizations, (RASA, AAC, HAC and CHEF) as well as RASA’s largest society: SportsCo. After both the information session and the General Assembly were not attended by a large group of people, Tabula Rasa decided to investigat the ideas and facts behind the CLF.
Daan was also asked about what the boards will do with the money. The approved CLF of 130 euros (instead of the 85 euros students currently pay as RASA and Elliott contribution) is divided in the following way: RASA receives 55 euros, Elliott 45, HAC 20, and SportsCo 10. RASA’s fee will stay similar to the one already paid at the moment, and they will not need more than that. 3000 euro’s will also free up in RASA’s budget as a result of the inclusion of SportsCo in the CLF, which can be invested into improving teams and societies, as well as creating reserves. The AAC, who receives no budget directly from the CLF, will stay connected to RASA and will undergo no further changes either. Elliott will receive 15 euro’s per student more than is the case in this academic year. This raise is necessary for financial stability of the Common House, in which many people can enjoy student life, both on an academic and social level. The HAC has no income now and will receive 20 euros per person as of next year. Nearly three quarters of this money will flow directly back to students: the floor and house elders, dinners, small improvements and yearly events. The remaining quarter will be invested into the campus, as most equipment in the housing buildings, especially in the common rooms, are over ten years old and in dire need of renovation. Finally, SportsCo will receive 10 euros per person, which causes the Sportspass to be abolished from next year. Sports in the Sports Center and access to the swimming pool will be offered for free. This should lower the threshold for students to play sports. Big events can now also be held in the Sports Center and will not be exclusive to Sportspass holders.
“In our agreements between the boards, we make clear that the CLF should be re-evaluated on a yearly basis, both the amount and the distribution,” ensures Daan, “if a party needs less money after a certain time period, the amount can be re-adjusted accordingly.”
Daan expected the GA to have some questions about the CLF, even after the information session held by UCR. Changes could still be made, but the amount of 130 euro’s would remain fixed. “People will probably question the amount of money needed for HAC and SportsCo, and I hope we can have a constructive, open discussion about it. In the end, I hope and expect the GA to approve of the division.” And so it happened: some questions were raised with regards to the amounts for these two parties, but eventually the GA convincingly voted in favor of the proposed distribution. Now, it is time for the plans to be executed and the community feeling to become stronger and to improve our campus even more.
Marijn Thijs, Class of 2016, is an Economics, Linguistics and History major from Maartensdijk, the Netherlands.
