Why should students have to pay for it? It’s all Greek to us

Students don’t live in Greece. But the university wants all students to fork over the cash to pay for it.

That just doesn’t make sense, simple as that.

In an effort to pay for the proposed Big Fat Greek Village, Western officials have said they are considering one option in which money from the university’s operating fund will be used to pay for the $2 million plot of land.

Students, take note. The money that makes the operating budget comes from funds like tuition and fees – you know, those hefty, ever-increasing checks you pay every year.

And guess what? Over 80 percent of you are not Greek, and many have no desire to ever become one.

But your money, from the long summer asking, “Do you want fries with that?” could fund the land that Greek organizations will be built on.

And unless you decide to go Greek, you’ll never get to take advantage of the $2 million endeavor.

And that, folks, just doesn’t make sense.

Since the members of this editorial board were wearing braces and learning to drive, Western officials have been adding to their wish list. “If only state money would come through, there’s a lot of things we could do to make this a better place,” we’ve heard them say time and time again.

Adding teachers. Better salaries. Renovating buildings.

But apparently, we’ve never had the cash.

But now, somewhere down the line, the university has decided it can make the cuts to buy property for a Greek Village.

But when it comes to making education better here on the Hill, the money is never around.

Well, it’s all Greek to us.

Students should get a little riled up about this. Students pay money every semester to get an education here. Western officials have always held that the rising cost of education is to improve life at Western. But improving Greek life isn’t helping other students’ education.

These words shouldn’t be taken as an attack on the Greek village concept. Sure, we see some of the positives for Bowling Green. But there has to be another way to pay for it. Our recommendation: fund raising. The fast-paced capital campaign showed the university can raise money. So why not get some private or corporate sponsors for this project?

Or the Greek alumni can tack the cost of the land on to the cost of the house. Even if only a dozen houses are built, that would take the cost down to a little over $150,000 for each organization. And they could own the land themselves.

Students at Western aren’t all Greek, and their pocketbooks shouldn’t have to pay that cost.

Students pay a high cost for education. They deserve their money being devoted to something they can all use.

Not a Greek Village.

This editorial represents the majority opinion of the Herald’s 10-member board of student editors.