Letters to the editor

Fees shouldn’t come from student pockets

I have some serious reservations about the proposed funding of the Greek Village here at Western.

The Greek Village is a good idea. Consolidating fraternity and sorority houses into a central (location) would be good for the community, university and Greek system. That is clear.

However, it is the intention (right now) of the administration to pass the development fees associated with the land acquisition and preparation onto the whole student body. This will cost millions of dollars. It is just not fair.

Over 82 percent of our student body does not participate in the Greek system. Why should they have to pay for fraternities and sororities to obtain new houses? Shouldn’t it be the financial responsibility of the individual Greek organizations?

There will be discussion of this issue on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m. in Downing University Center room 305 during the SGA congress meeting. Discussion will be during “Special Orders,” and I hope that people, both for and against the proposed funding, will be in attendance.

John Bradley

Senior, SGA President

Paducah

Greek system already heavily subsidized

I would like to express my concerns about the plan Western has adopted concerning the Greek Village.

While I am sure there are many benefits for Western and the Bowling Green community, I am bothered by the manner in which these benefits will be paid for.

At present, the cost of the land development for the Greek Village will be paid for by issuing bonds and then using tuition money to pay back the bonds.

It is unfair to expect the majority of Western students, who are non-Greeks by choice or by design of the Greek system, to bear any cost for this development.

The Greek system at Western is already heavily subsidized by non-Greeks in the form of money budgeted for the Greek Affairs office. The mere fact that the administration of Western supports organizations that proudly support social inequality is outrageous.

Greek Village will only acerbate the situation, and will force those opposed to the Greek system to contribute more money to the advancement of a two-tiered caste system among the student body.

Western students have been pelted with four years of substantial tuition increases. Every increase makes it harder for low-income students to afford an education. There is no reason to have further increases just to allow a small minority of students to enjoy the use of $500,00-plus houses.

Dana Lockhart

Senior

Hendersonville, Tenn.