Word: checkoff
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...have lately become aware of a movement by a student lobby group, the Public Interest Research Group, to establish a chapter at Harvard through a petition drive. As I understand it, one aim of the drive is to procure a student majority 'mandate' to implement a 'negative checkoff' funding mechanism for the organization through each student's University term bill...
...PIRG's ultimate goals, I find commendable; however, I would like to voice my concern about the proposed funding mechanism. A recent letter to The Crimson by proponents of the organization (Nov. 4) stated that "the real point is a democratic principle: if a majority of students want a checkoff on their term bill for PIRG or any other organization, that alone is sufficient cause for instituting it." Whereas I would be swayed by this argument if the issue were a 'positive checkoff', i.e., an option on the term bill whereby each student may elect to check a space indicating...
...have heard that other services within the University community already have a negative checkoff status, for example the abortion premium on University health insurance. I have heard that we don't even have a choice in supporting, say the Institute of Politics. Perhaps those analogies can be challenged; but my reply here is that past 'infringements' do not justify future ones...
Clearly, Mr. Nichols' fear that the H-R Republicans, the Spartacists, and God knows who else would soon appear on the term bill and "extort" money is unfounded. Majority support (by petition) for the checkoff must be demonstrated; and then, one chooses whether to contribute. It is worthy to note that no other campus organization in any state has sustained this funding mechanism, which has built in "sunset" provisions...
...real point is a democratic principle: if a majority of students want a checkoff on their term bill for PIRG or any other organization, that alone is sufficient cause for instituting it. Should not we as students have the capacity to assess ourselves for an organization we support? People who feel the term bill is a sacred object which should be kept inaccesible to those who pay it may disagree. But a failure to respond to the expressed preference of the majority, when it is costless to the university and non-binding, is an arrogant denial of students' rights. Mary...