Whereas, the New University is an independent entity that does not receive allotted funds from ASUCI or the Student Registration Fee,

Whereas, the New University has faced economic hardship for more than a decade without outside assistance,

Whereas, the New University has refrained until the most dire need from asking students to fund this award-winning newspaper, preferring to exhaust all options before asking for campus support to maintain print publication,

Whereas, the New University’s first Measure U Newspaper Fund referendum passed in UCI’s Spring 2013 elections, and is set to expire in Spring 2018.

Whereas, the New University has been saving money and lowering costs in any way possible by reducing editorial space, creating shorter issues, cutting full-time staff and editorial board stipends, and cutting distribution by increasing online presence,

Whereas, this referendum would be used to fund the operations of the New University to ensure it stays in print, is able to maintain staff and operations, and the University is informed of what is occurring on the campus in perpetuity,

Whereas, the New University is regarded as one of the few large and noteworthy college print publications south of Los Angeles,

Whereas, the end of the print edition of the New University would result in an end of the only regular widespread media presence on campus and losing the check and balance that the University needs to stay transparent to the student body and thus a UCI population less aware of campus events, news, and culture, which would be detrimental to the activism of the UCI community,

Whereas, the funding of the operations would allow it to continue publishing its print editions and present the UCI population with a check and balance as well as needed transparency, quality journalism, voice of the various clubs, communities, groups, individuals, and organizations on campus, and coverage of events and conditions that the UC system is currently experiencing and will conceivably experience for the foreseeable economic climate,

Whereas, the New University has recently expanded its coverage of various, if not all, aspects of campus life to bring to the eyes of the UCI population, and would continue and increase such efforts should funds become available,

Therefore, let it be resolved that the Measure U Newspaper Fund (MUNF) referendum be placed on the ballot for the Spring 2017 elections with the approval of Legislative Council.

Measure U Newspaper Fund (MUNF) 2017 Ballot Language

Do you support a fee of three dollars per quarter, which will support the operational costs of the New University, which is the official student newspaper of UC Irvine?

This quarterly fee will be charged at a rate of three dollars for the next five years (effective Fall 2017 and through Spring 2022), after which time the fee will end.

This fee will only be charged for the fall, winter, and spring quarters. It will not be charged during the summer quarter.

This fee will only be assessed to undergraduate students.

The New University is responsible for providing an annual report to the Chancellor on its services and operations to ensure the proper and effective use of the fees collected.

In accordance with campus policy, 33% of the fee will be returned to financial aid to help offset the cost of this fee for students who are eligible for financial aid.

In order to pass, this referendum will require a 20% voter turnout rate during the spring elections, of which 60% need to be Yes votes.

        ____ Yes, I support a three dollar per quarter fee for New University operation costs.

        ____ No, I do not support a per-quarter fee for New University operation costs.

        ____ Abstain