Editor’s Note: This column is one half of a pro/con piece that ran in the May 14 edition of The Runner. Click here to view the counterpoint.

$27,088 to remind you that ASI exists.

By Richard Garibay
Staff Writer

As you may or may not know, ASI has recently and unanimously approved the building of “hydration stations” to fit over our old fountains. These stations will give students a place to refill water bottles which would cut down on plastic bottle waste. While I do approve of ASI’s concern for the environment, I don’t like the route they chose to take.

First, let me explain why I have such an interest in this whereas other times I couldn’t care less what ASI does. The total cost for the project is $27,088 with $22,511 of that coming from reserves. When this kind of money starts to get thrown around we need to be careful, especially in these economic times.

The main reason I disagree with this project is because of what it represents. It is no coincidence that this vote and unanimous approval came before the elections. They are using this as a cheap ploy to hype up the pre-vote atmosphere of the school.

This hydration station project is a $27,088 ego stroking for ASI. It is an excuse they will use to sit around the Student Union and fellate each other’s sense of self-importance. It is a desperate attempt to remind the students, and probably themselves, that ASI does more than set up booths and give people free candy. If you need this type of attention to help you sleep at night, join the club. I do hope, however, that next time it will be in a smarter more efficient manner.

The simple truth is these stations are undeniably and unequivocally unnecessary. Students at this time have the opportunity to refill water bottles at any of the restaurants and water fountains on campus. If they aren’t saving bottles at these locations right now, why would anyone assume they would at a filling station? Furthermore, why would anyone spend so much money while that uncertainty exists? Worst case scenario would be nobody uses the filling stations making them a huge waste of money.

There will be, however, people that use these stations, and my fear is that they will be a small group that doesn’t provide the benefit so much money was used to promote. ASI might think that with the addition of these filling stations, every single beating heart at CSUB will stop buying plastic bottles. For the first couple of months there will be many people using the stations because they are new. After a while the shine will wear off and we’ll be left with pricey decorations.

These stations are not at all a single immediate cost either; they will continue to drain resources after their installation. While proponents may tell you these stations are guaranteed to last 10-15 years, they fail to take into account things like maintenance and repair. How will an institution that can barely keep up with its existing fountains (some are damaged, not working or torn out of the wall completely) care for the newer and more technologically enhanced filling stations? I should clarify that it is not solely a matter of cost. These broken fountains are the result of neglect and this will be the fate of the hydration stations.