Tyler Stanley
Contributing Writer
An ad-hoc committee formed by the Student Senate in recent weeks has been looking for a way to raise USM’s student activity fee. Ultimately, this will require a vote by the student body next spring. The committee is made up of Student Senators and other students involved in groups that are currently funded by the student activity fee. The fee is unique from others at USM because it is controlled completely by the Student Senate, which is registered as a non-profit organization. The funds are then disbursed to a variety of groups, such as the Board of Student Organizations, Portland and Gorham Events Boards, WMPG and The Free Press.
“This needs to happen in order for us to keep going,” said Katie Jo Chapman, financial chair of the Gorham Events Board and a member of the committee.
Members of the committee say that costs are rising each year as the amount received from the student activity fee stays the same.
Before the committee proposes any increases in the fee, however, they plan to conduct a campaign to educate students on what the fee currently provides. The committee has decided that many students are unaware of how and where money from the activity fee is spent.
“First, we want to make students aware of how the Student Activity Fee is spent and how it affects them,” said Joe Frechette, chair of the Portland Events Board. “A lot of people don’t know where their money is going.”
“It affects some really important parts of student life,” said Elise Adams, chair of the Student Communications Board and co-chair of the ad-hoc committee. “USM has a lot to offer and if more students knew about it, there would be more involvement.”
According to members of the committee, if the student activity fee were increased, the effects would be visible to the student body.
“We would be able to bring in more well known performers,” with more money, Chapman said. Frechette said that the Portland Events Board would be able to hold events of a “higher caliber” and better promote them. Also, bringing more recognizable artists to campus would give the Events Boards the opportunity to turn profits from big-ticket events.
“We don’t have the collateral to pull in names that would pull in the people right now,” Frechette said.
New employees are straining the activity fee as well. Five full-time and one half-time employee are employed with funds from the Student Activity Fee. Student Senate Chair and co-chair of the ad-hoc committee Jeremy Collette said the costs of benefits alone for USM employees has increased 130% since 1998. The activity fee has not been raised since 1997. As employee benefits and the cost of living rise, less of the money generated from the activity fee is actually available to students for activities.
Meanwhile, students have mixed views on the idea of a fee increase.
Christina Hart, a sophomore nursing major, who is also involved in the Board of Student Organizations, said “I don’t like having to pay extra money on top of my tuition.” She added, “I haven’t seen a problem with a lack of funds in student groups.”
Other students feel that they would want to know more before they approved an increase.
“If there’s nothing specific that it’s going towards then I think there’s enough to go around,” said Amanda Todd, a senior geography/anthropology major.
“I’d kind of like to know where money’s going,” said Freshman English Major, Meggin Chase, “If it’s useful I think it’s okay.”
The student body must vote in favor of any Activity Fee increase through a campus-wide referendum held in the spring during the student senate elections. The Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System must then approve the action.
In the Spring Semester of 2002, the Student Senate attempted to raise the activity fee from $39 for full time students to $60. The referendum failed with 56% voting no. The Student Activity Fee ad-hoc Committee is not sure how much they will propose for an increase. They believe they will have a more successful attempt at an increase through education and awareness.
Tyler Stanley can be contacted at [email protected]