For those of you who frequent the Lower Sproul Plaza on your way to class, to the RSF, to Tang, or to any other destination, you already know that the space desperately needs to be redesigned to meet the current and future needs of student services, student activities, student government, and the businesses that serve students.  Simply put, it is a dark, dreary, and unpopular place.  We are one of the top universities in the country and our Student Union Complex should reflect that this fact.  Even more important are the safety concerns: the buildings are in drastic need of substantial seismic and infrastructure renovations.

Although the desire to redevelop the Lower Sproul area has existed for over a decade, the effort has now gone father than ever before due to the engagement of students and a willing administration.  Chancellor Birgeneau has agreed that students should be given a “significant say” in the project.  Not only have the students been guaranteed an unprecedented level of student input in the process, we are developing partnerships that will minimize the financial burden on students.  For the first time the Chancellor has agreed to place the redevelopment on the capital campaign once a conceptual drawing is developed by this Spring.  (Next week’s student focus groups are crucial to ensure that students’ perspectives are included.)  This will enable the 400,000 living Cal alumni to donate to the project, as did the Hellers, the Pauleys, and the Zellerbachs when the current facilities were built.  With this addition, the funding approach for construction will be four-pronged: campus administration, commercial revenue generated by new business, alumni donations, and student fees.  It is also possible that the state could provide some funding as well.

The administration also has said that it will financially support the planning process in partnership with students.  In this way it may be possible to completely fund the next phase without asking for a student fee contribution.  As most students are by now aware, the Regents are contemplating two fees increases (an increase in the education fee, which primarily funds academics at Cal and an increase in the registration fee, which primarily funds student services at Cal).   As student representatives, we understand the impact increased fees have on all students; we also recognize the effect an uninviting and unsafe Student Union Complex has on all students.

If we do need a student referendum for the project to move forward, you can be sure that the financial impact on students would be minimized as much as possible.  Both student governments will make sure that for any money students do decide to contribute, it will be students deciding how the money is used.  Just as with last year’s RSF referendum, students will help shape and oversee the planning so that the results meet our needs and expectations.

If nothing is done the Chancellor may decide—he is legally responsible for student safety—to raise campus life safety fees unilaterally at some point in the near future.  Not only will this increase our fee burden, we will have absolute NO SAY in how the complex would be redeveloped.

The first step in ensuring a student voice in the redevelop starts with attendance at the focus groups. Those students interested in participating in the focus groups should contact ASUC Academic Affairs Vice President, Joyce Liou, at jtliou@berkeley.edu (undergrads only) or Graduate Assembly President, Josh Daniels, at president@ga.berkeley.edu (grads only).

Graduate Student Focus Group Times/Dates/Locations

Commuter Students: Anthony Hall – Conf. Room; Mon., Jan 29 @ 12:00p-1:00p

NE Campus Students: Soda Hall – Room TBA; Mon., Jan 29 @ 3:00p-4:00p

SE Campus Students: Boalt Hall – Room TBA; Tues., Jan 30 @ 12:45p-1:45p

International Students: I-House – Room TBA; Tues., Jan 30 @ 6:30p-7:30p

NW Campus Students: Tolman Hall – Room 3515; Wed., Jan 31 @ 12:00p-1:00p

Central Campus Students: Anthony Hall – Conf. Room; Wed., Jan 31 @ 5:30p-6:30p

Undergraduate Student Focus Group Times/Dates/Locations

Commuter Students: Eshleman Hall – Senate Chambers; Mon., Jan 29 @ 1:30p-2:30p

First-Year Students: Foothill – Building 1 TV Lounge; Mon., Jan 29 @ 4:30p-5:30p

Central Campus: Anthony Hall – Conf. Room; Mon., Jan 29 @ 7:00p-8:00p

Student Govt Leaders: Eshleman Hall – Senate Chambers; Tues., Jan 30 @ 2:00p-3:00p

Greek Leaders: Eshleman Hall – Senate Chambers; Tues., Jan 30 @ 3:30p-4:30p

Student Org. Leaders: Eshleman Hall – Senate Chambers; Tues., Jan 30 @ 5:00p-6:00p

NW Campus Students: Tolman Hall – Room 2327; Wed., Jan 31 @ 1:15p-2:15p

NE Campus Students: Soda Hall – Wozniak Lounge; Wed., Jan 31 @ 2:30p-3:30p

SE Campus Students: Kroeber Hall – Room 117; Wed., Jan 31 @ 4:00p-5:00p

First-Year Students: Unit 1 – Christian Hall All-Purpose; Wed., Jan 31 @ 7:00p-8:00p

TAKE THE SURVEY!!!!