University should thank students for contribution to Stroh

The University should pay tribute to the thousands of undergraduate students making a $28 million contribution. Each student today is paying $60 a semester — and they’ll continue to do so for several years — to fund the Stroh Center.

In spring 2009, students made history on campus by voting for a fee assessed to a student’s tuition. A campus-wide referendum took place, giving students the opportunity to vote on a potential $60 additional tuition fee to fund the Stroh Center.

A quick history lesson as I see it:

— The Undergraduate Student Government didn’t consult students about a potential fee. The majority ultimately voted to approve a fee in February 2009.

— A small, enthusiastic group dubbed Coalition for USG Reform protested against the administration, rallied for justice and collected more than 1,000 signatures to launch a student-wide vote. Several forums soon followed, and the possibility to reverse USG’s decision and have the University foot several millions to pay for the Stroh Center was a real possibility.

— All the signatures were found valid and a 24-hour voting period began in March 2009.

— Ultimately, the majority of the 3,800 students who voted decided a fee should be assessed to the undergrads attending the University today.

Since a majority of students voted for future students — such as yourselves — for a fee, students are paying $28 million, or nearly 80 percent of the Stroh Center’s total cost of $36 million.

While that’s not the way I voted, I can’t change history.

But I sure as hell want to preserve it.

I first want to thank Kerm Stroh and his family. Without his initial $8 million donation, there would most likely be no new Stroh Center — a new home for concerts, basketball games and graduation ceremonies.

It can also be considered the University’s “front porch,” as some described it in 2009. But students are the real donors — just like they did the “student” union and the “student” recreation center.

The administration is contributing 0 percent of the building’s total cost.

I’m not proposing we change the name of the Stroh Center to the “Student” Center. That’s just silly.

But I think students deserved to be recognized.

Students are the one making this beautiful arena become a reality.

I believe there should be a plaque honoring the students who made this center possible.

It should read: “Thank you to all the students who made the funding for this arena possible. A historic day occurred on March 27, 2009, but let’s continue to make great moments in this building today and in the future.”

It can’t be that much to build a plaque. And if it is, just have Carol Cartwright, Sheri Stoll, or any other University representative send me the bill.

Andy Ouriel

University alumnus