THE FACTS: With the Sept. 15 deadline for filing for appropriations funds, only four student organizations have completed the application process.

OUR OPINION: This is a rare chance for students to get their fees back and use them to help finance many of the organizations they belong to — they need to seize the opportunity and request these funds before it’s too late.With only five days left before the final deadline for filing for appropriations funds from Student Government, only two organizations have completely finished the application process.This ridiculous situation seems like something from “The Twilight Zone” — students are passing up on the opportunity to get money that comes entirely from fees they pay to the University?Student fees fund the appropriations process — this means that students have an opportunity to get some of their money back and help finance student organizations and groups that they enjoy. Filing early may result in the organization receiving more money. Why aren’t student groups swarming the Student Government offices and requesting money?There are problems and hassles associated with filing at the deadline. Student leaders may be unprepared to deal with the interview process for the appropriations process or turn in receipts past deadline, making it difficult to appropriate and reimburse funds properly. Moreover, student groups that turn in the application paperwork early tend to get more money than they would receive if they had filed closer to the deadline.As both Student Senate President pro tempore Jackie Smith and Student Senate President Kelli Rogers said, information about the application process can be a hurdle for organizations looking to receive appropriations funds, particularly for organizations with new leaders who have little knowledge about the process. But the information is available — students can get in direct contact with Student Government leaders, attend help sessions on campus or find the information from various online sources, including the student organization listserv and the Student Government Web site. The lack of information should not be an obstacle for student groups to apply for funds.The bottom line is simple: you can get some of your fee money back to help pay for a club or organization that supports one of your hobbies, interests, studies or passions. And the earlier your file your application, the better chance you stand of getting more money.What are all these student groups waiting for?