COLUMN: More about ASUSU, fees
As I have read some of the letters to the editor from the student body at large, it appears that there are some concerns and misunderstandings of student government, and I thought that I would dedicate this month’s article to help educate the student body about some of these issues.
ASUSU Executive Council is not under the budget of the university. Every program, activity, and effort made by the executive council is paid for out of a separate budget called the activity fee, which is $24.75 per student per semester.
The ASUSU Executive Council governs the activity fee and yes, the students pay this fee, all of which is used to benefit the students. The activity fee not only covers all of the officers’ budgets but also covers all registered clubs and organizations, academic programs like the Undergraduate Research Academic Opportunity Fund, Utah Intercollegiate Assembly, the annual Spelling Bee, College Bowl, etc.
It also supports the Panhellenic and Interfraternal Council, Children’s House, Student Alumni Association, Multicultural Student Services, Student Wellness Center, International Student office, Mortar Board, and Service Learning.
The activity fee supports the main ASUSU office and the staff, including two full-time advisers and two part-time advisers. The fee pays for the Spirit Squad scholarships and the two attorneys hired by ASUSUEC to give legal service to any students.
The rest of the activity fee that is not allocated in this budget is put into a fund called Capital Support and can be used for other programs supported by ASUSUEC, but not a part of the fixed costs. For example the English writing contest, the Native American powwow, 9-11 Candlelight Vigil, etc. I could go into a lot more detail, but I think you get the picture. This fee does a lot more than pay for 21 scholarships and free Aggie ice cream.
Just so you know, ASUSUEC does not provide money for election candidates. Election money is from the candidates’ own pocket book.
Without student government, we wouldn’t have the man power to have these programs, even if we had the money. So as for the university saving money from eliminating ASUSU Executive Council, the university would not be saving one dime. Moreover, the effects of the programs being cut would be astronomical and more than I think most students realize.
The ASUSUEC governs other fees, including University Student Fee, the Building Fee, Statesman Fee, Computer Fee, Library Fee, Tech Enhancement, Health Fee, Student Center Fee, Athletics Fee, Campus Recreation Fee, Music/Theater Fee and the Bus Fee.
If students did not govern these fees, then those who would govern them would be people who do not pay fees and most likely have never paid. They would have the opportunity to raise fees as high as they wanted to. I can promise you in hard times, the fees would not remain at status quo. This is wisdom by the founder of this Student Fee Board to have students governing their own fees.
There may seem to be advantages in eliminating ASUSUEC, but the only gain in this action would result in a greater loss to both students and the university.
Celestial Bybee is the ASUSU president. Comments can be sent to her at celestial@cc.usu.edu.