Students should be aware that information given by Chris Wisher and Jennifer Johnson in letters to residence hall students is misleading.

Wisher said in his letter, which was sent out to all residence hall students, that with the support of the residence hall votes “we can turn my campaign into a referendum against this unfair rent increase.” Wisher was referring to the proposed 7.5 percent increase in room and board rates for the 1998-99 academic year. However, the means by which he proposes to reduce rates are invalid.

First, Wisher said that a letter was sent to Jischke’s office outlining his “plan to spread this increase out over five years and cut some of the proposed spending.”

The problem with this is that the budget for the master plan has not been released to students, so how could this candidate know what cuts to suggest? Furthermore, according to Randy Alexander, director of the Department of Residence, at the Feb. 12 meeting of the Inter-Residence Hall Association (IRHA), the 7.5 percent room and board increase will cost students less money than by paying smaller increase increments over a longer period of time.

Second, the candidate said that “their proposal will place all of the costs of the Maple Hall renovation on next year’s room and board.”

Even though this information is true in content, it is misleading. According to Randy Alexander, the renovation of Maple Hall is being financed by only part of the increase in the room rate. This restoration accounts for approximately 4 percent of the increase in this rate. The other 7 percent is going towards other residence halls that are in desperate need of repair, the paying of other miscellaneous expenses, and the building of the cash reserves. These cash reserves must be increased in order to carry out the “master plan” that will restore the beauty of the residence halls as well as create more conveniences for students who will live in the residence halls.

Third, Wisher said that he will fight the increase as GSB president. However if elected, he would not be seated until it is too late to make a significant impact because the budget may be approved before the installation of next year’s GSB officers. In addition, Alexander, who is in charge of the budget to renovate Maple and other residence halls, told IRHA that he does not consult GSB about residence hall issues.

An informed vote is a good vote.

Renee Fosselman

RCA president

Dawn Kanoski

RCA special events chair

Jay McLaren

IRHA president