I would like to take this time to address a few concerns that have arisen regarding the Government of the Student Body’s [GSB] proposal for the Cyclone Cinema. The project being proposed does run an annual deficit, that is correct. Last week we even had a former chief justice of GSB call this “investing in a failed business plan.” By this standard, nearly every student organization that receives GSB funds is a failed business plan. The inherent purpose of the student activity fee is to subsidize student activities and services to make sure that students have ample resources and activities to enhance their experience at Iowa State. We pay into groups like VEISHEA, the Student Activities Center, the Financial Counseling Clinic and Student Legal Services all to provide services, resources and entertainment for students. Are those failed business plans? This proposal would be subsidizing a student cinema that would play movies at a lower cost to students, offer a venue for student organizations to show films that relate to the mission of their organization and provide another space for academic and entertainment type lectures. Nothing failing about that plan, especially if you look to the successes of this type of venue on other campuses across the country.

Another opinion article stated that this was a pet project of a few GSB members and wouldn’t reach enough students. That argument is laughable. This project was started by a few students who proposed it to GSB, there was no GSB money or resources that went into this proposal, and the notion that GSB shouldn’t be looking to their own projects to benefit the university is even more absurd. GSB’s job is to reallocate unspent or misspent monies reclaimed from student organizations on projects that enhance the student experience. Don’t simply hate a project because of its magnitude. That is ignorant. This project actually has the potential to reach every student at Iowa State. It provides an alternative entertainment option for those students not looking to binge drink on the weekends. It provides a place for student organizations to host events and expand their impact on the campus community. It provides a space for the students, city of Ames and Iowa State to come together and invest in an area of significance to all parties. And lastly it would show films costing only $1 with very cheap concessions, neither of which is provided by the North Grand theater anymore.

Still don’t see it? Try looking at the survey data collected. Eighty-five percent of students said they go to a movie in Ames at least once per year, and more than 50 percent go more than once per month. That is a lot of students affected. When asked what students wanted to see in the Campustown area, the number one response was a movie theater. The argument of dollar amount per word in the legislation is completely irrelevant. Try looking at the project as an opportunity. The annual cost of running this theater would be less than we pay for legal services, financial advice, lectures, therapy services, performing arts programs and, ironically, less than half of what it costs to run GSB every year.

Lastly, the Daily’s editorial board asked GSB to postpone the vote so they could properly cover the proposal. As of yet, I haven’t seen any effort in that regard other than the publishing of opinion/editorial articles.

This proposal would create student job opportunities, provide student engagement and ownership in the Campustown region, provide a safe entertainment venue for minors in Campustown, provide a recruitment tool for the University and give families another option for entertainment on campus visits, and it would be a great space for student organizations for events and collaboration. The notion that no project can touch every student may be true, but I can guarantee that almost every student would feel some positive impact of this theater should the proposal go through. I ask that any student with questions or comments regarding the project read the documents on the GSB Web site to educate yourself, and send any questions or comments to [email protected]. I don’t have a vote on the GSB Senate, but I’ll make sure the educated voices get heard.

Tom Danielson is a Senior in Civil Engineering