Spring is a time for optimism, a reality no different when the topic of discussion is ASM.

Student government has the potential to be a powerful lobbying voice for student interests on the campus, city and state levels. While past sessions have instead busied themselves with special interests and partisan politics, next year’s ASM, meeting tonight for the first time, has the chance to begin anew and reclaim the organization’s lost credibility. As ASM sets next year’s agenda, we hope they set achievable goals regarding day-to-day student concerns.

No. 1 on the list should be lobbying City Council about the potential drink-special ban. We found it highly ironic that the previous session of ASM spent last Thursday patting itself on the back for a job well done even as they ignored an ongoing ALRC hearing regarding student drinking. The new council has a chance to rectify this mistake at next week’s City Council meeting.

ASM should also pursue issues surrounding tenants’ rights, including a landlord database; peer advising; a 24-hour library; and a pragmatic lobbying position regarding state budget decisions. These and other concrete issues will enable next year’s ASM to make a significant impact on number of issues that directly touch students’ lives.

Now for reality …

Next year’s ASM must also make financial accountability a top priority. Although higher than necessary budget increases have been the norm throughout ASM’s 10-year existence, allocable seg fees spiraled completely out of control this year, resulting in a near-doubling of the portion of tuition paid for allocable seg fees.

ASM must ensure this is not repeated. We encourage the council to set a cap on seg-fee increases before entering the budget process. Under the current piecemeal system, it’s far too easy for ASM to unthinkingly dole out vast sums of money; a predetermined cap on increases would force ASM to prioritize and only award money to the most deserving groups. In order to get the most use out of such a cap, ASM should also conduct all of its budget hearings before it begins allocating funds so it can get a sense of different organizations’ relative needs.

Unfortunately, we doubt ASM will have the political fortitude to institute such a cap. Therefore, Chancellor Wiley should be prepared to follow up his recent budget trim by instituting such a cap himself. Blocking reckless spending before money is allocated — not after — would ensure available funds are allocated equitably, and would put allocable seg-fee increases more in line with the unallocable seg fees which go to services such as the Union, SERF and UHS.

Student government, even ASM, has potential to be an asset to students. It is up to tonight’s group to make it happen.