I am deeply concerned by the opinion in Tuesday's Collegian regarding UPAC reform and the potential raising of the student activity fee. Making UPAC more democratically elected is a critical component to creating a better system. Because there are only eight elected undergraduate positions, there is no direct accountability to the student body. Making more seats available also increases the number of people wanting to run for seats because there will not be an impression that elected students do not have the same power as appointed students. UPAC needs to have internal policy changes as well.

Four students, including myself, drafted policy proposals and presented them to UPAC at their April policy meeting. The right to draft policy changes and present them to the committee for a vote is afforded to every student, though we were the first students to ever do this. We were able to work cooperatively with UPAC, and I commend the members for being receptive to our ideas.

Before we start throwing more money into a system with some major problems, USG Senate and President Zartman should focus on fixing problems within the UPAC system by researching and presenting policy changes to UPAC. Raising the student activity fee when nothing has been done to look at any problems within UPAC will do nothing but continue to promote an unfair and malfunctioning system.