Letter to the Editor submitted on March 22, 2007 and printed on March 26, 2007: A vigorous student lobby

We would like to express our profound disappointment in the Diamondback story of March 14, 2007, "On housing tax, a quiet student body." The article did not at all convey the hours upon hours of research, discussion, and negotiations the GSG, SGA, and Rethinkcollegepark.net did to ensure that an ill-conceived bill did not become state law. As soon as we heard about SB 582, we immediately mobilized to prevent what could have been a disastrous situation for students. We vigorously expressed our concerns directly to the bill's sponsor -- State Senator Jim Rosapepe. We told him we were planning on testifying against SB 582. He asked that we consider a compromise instead. We agreed, and let him know that if a compromise was not to our liking, that we would in fact testify against the bill, and speak out against it.

Based on our concerns, in short order Senator Rosapepe called a meeting of the GSG, SGA, Rethinkcollegepark.net, state legislators from District 21, College Park officials, and a Prince George's County official. We met for several hours on Sunday, March 11 to attempt to forge a compromise. We agreed on extending the fee-exempt zone to include most of the Route 1 corridor north of campus. This extended zone, which would not have happened without our participation, provides an adequate amount of land to address our long-term student housing needs. Had it not been for student involvement, we would have ended up with a fee-exempt zone hardly larger than campus itself. I consider this a huge victory for students.

So I am puzzled that the Diamondback has implied that there was no lobbying on our part. Nothing could be further from the truth. We preserved literally millions of dollars in future student housing incentives.

Diamondback writers need to more carefully research their articles and not jump prematurely to conclusions without properly examining all the facts.

Laura Moore, GSG President

Emma Simson, SGA President

David Daddio, Rethinkcollegepark.net

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