No matter who you are, everyone thinks they are paying too much for school. I’m no different. Every time I check my e-Bill I cringe at the amount due and realize I won’t be able to take those platform shoes I wanted off layaway.
Right now, every full-time student pays $678.50 in fees. Without a doubt, that number will increase in the year to come. With so much money being paid in student fees, it’s no wonder students are so critical of organizations like Student Government, who’s fee is $8.85 — students expect tangible results for their money. Student Government will be giving out $45,000 to student groups this fall through the Senate’s appropriations process; student groups can apply online until Sep. 22. The Union Activities Board receives a fee of $13.80 and has already brought Cartel here this year and will continue to try to deliver fun activities for students on campus.
Those good deeds aside, the general mood on campus is that the amount of money we pay is not being matched by the events and programs that are offered on campus. One way this could be changed is by making sure that the student body is educated on how their money is being spent.
The onus is on those that ask for fees to explain and publicize what exactly new money will be spent on and why that funding is in their best interest. The problem that arises is there seems to be a disconnect between the types of things students are willing to foot the bill for and what the administration deems important. Most students are willing to shell out a couple more bucks to have Kanye West or Fall Out Boy for Homecoming; getting support for a new sustainability fee is a bit more daunting.
My personal philosophy as a student leader is to support keeping fees as low as possible, with some support for fun on-campus events. If students want to go beyond that and spend money on other things, that’s fine, but the Tuition and Fees Advisory Committees need to gauge their opinion before supporting a massive increase in fees.
One innovative way to get student input is to have them vote on which fees they support. This Oct. 8 – 9, Student Government will hold a referendum on each individual fee where students will be able to cast votes in favor or in opposition. This way students are holding us accountable and having their voices heard.
Education is a two-way street and while I have often sat in meetings and heard about how students need to be told why increasing every single fee under the sun is a good thing, administrators and student leaders also need to be educated on exactly what the student body supports.
At the end of the day, we work for you. We need to remember that now when decisions are being made — instead of in the spring when the campus is cluttered with the sandwich boards of people who say they will fight on your behalf.
