Spring Break
Student fee debate a reason to unite, not divide ourselves
Ryan Mann
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: Forum
I want to briefly address the demonstration that took place in the MU Quad last Wednesday. I have to admit that it is discouraging and disappointing to see such important student energy going into an event like this.
While I am an ardent supporter of discourse surrounding the democratic process and relevant issues, I would like to see that energy used to bring students together.
The event in the quad was attempting to point out that college students could get more for their money by not paying the student/incidental fees. I think long and hard about each decision that affects the student pocketbook, but I also think long and hard about absolutely invaluable services that are provided by our self-imposed incidental fees.
A committee of elected student officials oversee the incidental fee budget, and the organizations that fall under the scope of this committee fund things such as 6,000 tickets to each home football game, access to a state-of-the-art recreation center, access to counseling and psychological services, a nationally recognized student union, a student government that serves students with SafeRide and MealBux as some of its many services, green energy, a student health center, six cultural and resource centers, city-wide bus access and so many other valuable services and resources that improve the lives of students.
One may argue that they do not support every single aspect of the organizations, buildings, programs and services that the incidental fee covers, but frankly, any one item on the list would cost you more than you pay in fees.
More important than the debate over given programs that student fees pay for, the student-against-student energy that is being perpetuated by demonstrations like the one last Wednesday is what is truly disappointing.
While the state government slashes millions in our budget, potentially forcing tuition hikes and program cuts, we attack each other. While our national economy suffers and our parents are laid off, we attack each other. While we vote at lower rates than our older counterparts, we still funnel our energy toward bringing each other down.
While I am an ardent supporter of discourse surrounding the democratic process and relevant issues, I would like to see that energy used to bring students together.
The event in the quad was attempting to point out that college students could get more for their money by not paying the student/incidental fees. I think long and hard about each decision that affects the student pocketbook, but I also think long and hard about absolutely invaluable services that are provided by our self-imposed incidental fees.
A committee of elected student officials oversee the incidental fee budget, and the organizations that fall under the scope of this committee fund things such as 6,000 tickets to each home football game, access to a state-of-the-art recreation center, access to counseling and psychological services, a nationally recognized student union, a student government that serves students with SafeRide and MealBux as some of its many services, green energy, a student health center, six cultural and resource centers, city-wide bus access and so many other valuable services and resources that improve the lives of students.
One may argue that they do not support every single aspect of the organizations, buildings, programs and services that the incidental fee covers, but frankly, any one item on the list would cost you more than you pay in fees.
More important than the debate over given programs that student fees pay for, the student-against-student energy that is being perpetuated by demonstrations like the one last Wednesday is what is truly disappointing.
While the state government slashes millions in our budget, potentially forcing tuition hikes and program cuts, we attack each other. While our national economy suffers and our parents are laid off, we attack each other. While we vote at lower rates than our older counterparts, we still funnel our energy toward bringing each other down.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Ben
posted 2/24/09 @ 4:53 PM PST
How does having $1,100 dollars of stuff in the MU constitute student on student fighting? Especially since the demonstration was to show just what $1,100 can get you, and nobody is or was asking for the end of student fees. (Continued…)
Adam Braley
posted 2/24/09 @ 5:03 PM PST
I must respectfully disagree with Mann's arguement. Though there are invaluable services that are funded in part by student fees, there are also plenty of applications that benefit too small a portion of the student body to be justified, whether by design or poor advertisement. (Continued…)
Jerred Taylor
posted 2/25/09 @ 1:07 PM PST
In an effort to add some information to the discussions on this column, I am going to take a moment to explain our current fee process.
There are currently 12 budgeting boards that have been established to manage and distribute our student and incidental fees. (Continued…)
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