Students to vote on union funding issues

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Peter Likins UA president said funding options for the new union will be put to a student vote.

Likins said administrators are still forming a plan to pay off the Union's $60 million price tag, adding that money details will be available closer to the February Arizona Board of Regents meeting.

"Plans are still in flux," Likins stated in an e-mail interview. He went on to describe the tentative financial plans that students may see in the form of a referendum this spring.

"Each option would include a complete financing plan, so the student voters would know what role is to be played by vendor fees, gifts, student fees and such general resources of the university as tuition revenues," he said.

The referendum would include:

Two different "financing plans" to construct the proposed 377,000 square-foot union.

An option to abandon plans for the new building in favor of bringing the current complex up to "modern standards of structural integrity, health and safety."

Student Union Director Dan Adams said the estimated cost for bringing the union up to code is about $14.2 million, which "doesn't include the first coat of paint," Adams said.

Likins said that the latter option would require demolition of a portion of the current structure, and would be "still quite expensive, but less costly than the new facility."

Before putting a plan before students, administrators will seek regents' contract approval for a selected construction and design team, he said.

"Although we know exactly what we will build if authorized (by regents) ...we are still trying to determine what we are obliged to do if we are unable to muster the support needed to realize this vision," Likins said.

In the past, Likins has said he supported a student fee to take effect once the project is completed. In November, 1997, 70 percent of students voted against a $40 per semester charge to fund the union project.

Likins was not available for further comment last night.

Regent Rudy Campbell said last night it was "premature" to speculate on whether or not the board would accept the University of Arizona's initial plan.

Associated Students President Tara Taylor, however, said she and others involved in the union's planning anticipated funding problems because plans had to be laid before money was secured, Taylor added.

"The truth is there isn't anything in place, other than something waiting in limbo for financial approval," she said. "I'm not sure if it depends on funding falling through, but rather, if the plan they have to implement will work or not."

Regardless of what financial plans the university offers, ASUA will not endorse a student fee, Taylor said.

"That is an issue that is important to them (the administration) that we don't think is appropriate for us to run," she said. "It's a student's choice."

Two students questioned yesterday were divided on the issue.

Elementary education freshman Debbie Warren said she did not support building a new union "because this one's fine - this one is sort of historical."

"I would not support a student fee," she added.

However, Navin Lavu, a molecular and cellular biology junior, said securing funding for building a new union is necessary.

"I think to keep up with other schools we would need a new student union," Lavu said. "If that involved a student fee, I wouldn't oppose."