The Student Senate proposed a bill at its meeting Wednesday to establish a new student fee for financing the future Union renovation and expansion project.
If the Senate passes the bill by at least a two-thirds vote, students will vote on the fee for the spring Student Government elections.
The bill asks to increase the current Union fee of $47 by $10 per semester over the next six years, with a total increase of $60.
By the spring of 2006, the fee, including the current fee of $47, will be $107.
The current Union fee is covered by TOPS and will continue to be covered. However, Union officials were unsure if TOPS will cover the increased amount.
Union director Shirley Plakidas and many others have been working on the project to renovate and expand the Union for about two years.
The project includes plans to add approximately 57,600 square feet to the already existing 150,000 existing square feet of the building.
The estimated total cost of the project is $54,600,000.
The complete proposed renovation project would include adding a new main entrance on the corner of the building facing Highland Road, adding space to each of the existing floors and adding a fourth floor over the added area.
WTW, the architectural firm that proposed the changes to the Union, also recommended adding a new late-night activities center.
Plakidas pointed out that the plans would separate the late-night center from the rest of the Union in order to keep it open later.
She also said one of the most exciting parts of the proposed plan is the suggested center for student organizations and leadership.
This part of the expansion will give more organizations the chance to have offices and meeting rooms in the Union.
Despite the large amount of construction in the proposed plan, the Union will probably never completely be closed to students.
“Construction will be done in phases,” Plakidas said. “So we will never have to close down the entire building at one time.”
The proposed bill for the new student fee points out that students in 1958 saw the need for a student center and proposed a similar fee.
The University completed the Union in 1964 and financed it completely through these self-assessed student fees.
The Union will host an information briefing for the public Feb. 5 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Union Vieux Carre Room.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the fee at its meeting next Wednesday.