It’s time we leave the Association of Student Governments

This is the last straw for the UNC-system Association of Student Governments. In light of an inflated budget and lack of results, it’s time that UNC-Chapel Hill stops funding this group.

ASG, a group responsible for representing the interests of students throughout the entire UNC system, has not proved its worth. And its use of student fees is simply embarrassing.

Last weekend, ASG gave final approval to its $260,000 budget for the upcoming year. These funds come directly from student fees paid by UNC-system students.

The fee is $1 per year. Although this might not seem like much, it adds up. And the money could certainly be used for much more pertinent programs. This is especially true in a time when every dollar counts.

The UNC system has gone through some of the most severe budget cuts in recent history, which means every dollar must be spent carefully, including student fees.

ASG’s budget is nothing more than a giant waste of money, largely spent on travel expenses and salaries.

Their budget consists of close to $100,000 for salaries, stipends and other compensation for ASG members and administrative workers.

Another $42,000 is allocated for travel expenses and hotels — sometimes simply to plan the budget.

ASG just hasn’t done enough to show that it deserves, or even needs, its current budget.

Prior to 2002, ASG worked with a budget of only $2,500. Granted, $2,500 isn’t much to work with.

“It was basically an unfunded group,” said Jeff Nieman, who was president of ASG from 1998 to 2000. But the group existed nonetheless.

Then the UNC-system Board of Governors approved the $1 student fee that allowed its budget to balloon. The group’s effectiveness has seen little measurable increase.

Former president and Nieman’s successor, Andrew Payne, told The Daily Tar Heel that these salaries are “ridiculous.”

“I can understand compensating everyone for their time, but that wasn’t the intention of the fee.” Payne said.

While the potential for an effective ASG may exist, the group hasn’t achieved the goals that it has laid out. Student representation hasn’t been accomplished.

In 2007, ASG’s legitimacy as a representative of the student body suffered another blow. The organization fell into turmoil when Cole Jones, then-president of ASG, resigned after being charged with misdemeanor assault of his aunt. The charges have since been dropped, but questions of the group’s legitimacy remain.

In fact, former UNC-CH Student Body President J.J. Raynor did not even attend the meetings personally. She sent a proxy instead, much to the chagrin of the organization. But one can hardly blame her.

The time for reforming ASG has come and gone. The group’s impact on the system has been marginal, and its steady increase in budget is not being matched by a steady increase in productivity.

In the past, the DTH’s Editorial Board has called on ASG to provide evidence that justifies its allotment of student fees. Last year, Greg Doucette, president of ASG, wrote an open letter in response. He claimed that his organization was involved with several on-campus initiatives, including “get out the vote” efforts.

But we’re just not convinced that ASG does enough to warrant their enormous budget. A re-evaluation of ASG is in order.

Students could use a group that represents their interest in the legislature, but ASG simply hasn’t been up to the challenge.

The money we are forced to funnel to ASG could be spent in a wiser fashion. For example, the funds could be used to provide more scholarships or other student services.

According to Jennings Carpenter, student body treasurer, students can petition the associate vice chancellor of finance, Roger Patterson, to eliminate the fee. Enough is enough.

It’s time Carolina students demand that we stop funding this ineffective organization.