The first of four informational forums addressing the University Student Recreational Center fee increase will be held tonight at 6 p.m. in the UREC.
The forums will consist of a 30-minute presentation by UREC director Tamara Jarrett to explain the need for the fee increase and what will be done with the money generated. The floor will then be opened for a question-and-answer session. Tricia Milford-Hoyt, UREC assistant director of marketing and membership, said the forums are mainly to get student input about the fee increase and provide students with more information. “We’ll have an opportunity to engage directly with students,” Milford-Hoyt said. “We hope to continue the dialogue we’ve already started and make sure students get the information they need to think positively about what we’re doing.” Milford-Hoyt said student input at the forums will be taken into consideration when it comes time to decide what to do with the money. “Due to the process of the Student Required Fee committee, students won’t impact whether the fee is passed,” Milford-Hoyt said. Kaitlin Pruett, pre-veterinarian medicine sophomore, said she is concerned about the fee increase and would like to attend the forum. “It seems like it would be an interesting thing to do,” Pruett said. “I would like to know more information about it, seeing as how everyone on campus seems to be asking for fee increases.” Brian Buchert, marketing sophomore, said he does not plan on attending the forums. “I’m just too busy and really not interested,” Buchert said. The UREC has created a Web site, www.lsu.edu/urec/fee, dedicated to the fee increase where students can get more information on the forums. An audio-visual file of the forums will be posted on the Web site on Feb. 18 for students who are unable to attend. UREC representatives are also stationed in Free Speech Alley to allow students an additional opportunity to gather information. Milford-Hoyt said students have reacted positively to the idea of the forums. “Students are glad and pleasantly surprised that a [University] director is willing to do this,” Milford-Hoyt said.
—-Contact Katie Kennedy at [email protected]