A new UCS resolution calls for a $13 increase in the Student Activities Fee for the 2007-2008 academic school year, thus increasing the Student Activities Fee from $146 to $159. A fee raise, however, is not a good idea for four main reasons.
First, many student groups have raised funds, and it is not necessary to increase the amount of money available to student groups. The groups get these funds from hosting events that cost money to attend or from raising money in other ways. Despite these funds, all Category III student groups (groups that have met certain guidelines) can request a budget and receive some money from the Student Activities Fee. But this fee cannot and will not cover everything that groups request. Raising the fee simply puts an unnecessary burden on everyone. At least a few of these Category III groups lobby the Undergraduate Finance Board for funding in order to hold events despite the fact that they have enough money in their raised funds. When they have enough in their raised funds, instead of asking and receiving more money from UFB, these Category III groups should use their raised funds. As a result, there would be more money in the UFB budget for groups that don't have enough of their own funding. This would negate any necessity for an increase in the Student Activities Fee.
Second, results from the Fall 2006 UCS WebCT Poll show that 38 percent of students are for an increase in the Student Activities Fee, 45 percent are against an increase, and 17 percent have no opinion on the issue. Because more students are against this increase, therefore in the best interests of the student body, there should not be a $13 increase in the Student Activities Fee. All students have to pay this fee, but not all students are in student groups that need money.
Third, UFB claims that the total amount of money needed is $500,000 increase in the Student Activities Fund. Given that the resolution calls for a $13 increase, and given the number of undergraduates at Brown, this amounts to an increase of over $70,000. Obviously, $500,000 is too large an increase - that money would support events that do not need to be supported by UFB. A token increase of over $70,000 would raise the fee, but would not satisfy UFB. Thus, for students groups and UFB, leaving the fee at the current level will not be significantly different from raising the fee a small amount. But students will have to pay the costs.
Fourth, the Student Activities Fee was raised last year by $10. UCS asked for a $54 increase. No amount of money will satisfy UFB, and we cannot endlessly increase the fee. $10 is more than the inflation rate. Quite simply, this is another example of college tuition rising faster than inflation. Students shouldn't suffer these costs. We would do fine to leave the student activities fee at its current rate.
Please come to the UCS forum on this issue tonight at 8 p.m. in Petteruti Lounge in Faunce House to let UCS know that you don't want your fees to keep rising.
Jane Zhang '10, Jake Heimark '10 and Stefan Smith '09 put their money where their mouths are.
