New sponsorship policy stifles competition, encourages monopoly
It is my belief that the rules outlined in the new University Senate sponsorship policy (“University Senate revises sponsorship policy to clarify, modify past sections” Matt Chambers, Nov. 5, 2010) encourage unsound business principles.
In the United States, a cornerstone of capitalism and pillars of our economy have been built upon the freedom of individual businesses to compete. Since my days as leader of Students In Free Enterprise at GCSU (2005), I have always been troubled by the monopoly our current food services provider has on campus dining, for example. The economic success of Milledgeville is due, in large part, to GCSU and so strictly regulating business involvement with campus organizations could put the economic health of our community at risk.
Further, I feel that restricting campus organizations from soliciting donations themselves is closing important avenues to resources and prevents GCSU from building a world-class student activities experience. The notion that it is in GCSU’s best interest to do business with existing business partners is false; it is bad for GCSU as it limits the autonomy of our diverse student groups to raise money. Exclusivity clauses serve companies, not campuses, and it is imperative that these rules (and the contracts no doubt behind them) be reexamined.
Regards,
Andrew R. Townsend
GCSU Alumnus ‘05
Posted by gcsunade
on Nov 11 2010. Filed under Letters to the Editor.
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