Student fee board discusses ARC fee increase, technology fee decrease

The Utah State University student fee board met to discuss a fee increase for the Aggie Recreation Center and a computer fee decrease on Wednesday Jan. 20. 

The meeting was held in the ballroom of the Taggart Student Center. Board members attended in person while the meeting was broadcasted live. 

“This is an informative meeting,” Executive Vice President Lucas Stevens said. “None of these decisions will be final.”

Director of Campus Recreation Daniel Lawrence proposed a $6.50 ARC fee increase. Of that, 99 cents would be used to cover unexpected expenses and replacements in years to come.

Since the ARC is student funded, an example of an expense the 99 cents could cover could be low student enrollment. 

Many members of the board expressed interest in exploring other options to raise funds, such as through hosting camps and conferences or not being open as long. 

Student fee Board

Public Relations director Rachel Arner said she worked at the ARC for more than three years and believed there are other places to pull funding from. She said there is unnecessary merchandise and activities. 

Associate vice president for Student Affairs Eric Olsen said that when camps are held on campus, the money does not go toward the buildings’ fees. He also said hosting camps in the ARC would prevent students from using it for 2 to 3 days. 

The straw poll for the ARC fee increase showed 15 members in support with six voting to abstain. 

Engineering Senator Cooper Karras proposed a $1.60 technology fee decrease for computers. He said over the past few years, the computer lab in Old Main has been used less and less. Computers from that lab will be sold or moved to other labs on campus, so less funds will be needed to maintain the Old Main lab. 

Instead of using the money elsewhere, Karras said it would be wise to decrease the fee until another use is found for the funds. 

The straw poll for the technology fee decrease was supported unanimously. 

The board will meet again on Jan. 27 to discuss the fee changes again. The executive council, made up of President Noelle Cockett, college deans and legal councils will be presented with the straw polls.

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