Our View: Spouses should pay student prices

The debate over letting USU student spouses use the athletic equipment on the second floor of the Fieldhouse is getting out of hand. Should the immediate family members be allowed to use the equipment? Yes, but for a price. The current $31.50 price for a spouse card is all right and allows them access to some of the finer things on campus. It is also excessive for a non-student to pay $263, which is what a 15 credit-hour student pays.

Spouses should pay more than the current spouse card price for Fieldhouse access. Looking at the current student fees and adding the totals for what a spouse is allowed access to with a spouse card, the spouse is getting a steal of a deal.

The student fees for these same activities are: athletic events, $49.25; theater events, $4; campus recreation, $18.50; buses, $8; buildings, $63; and libraries, $11. That is a grand total of $153.75. The spouses are complaining about $31.50 and no access to the second floor of the Fieldhouse.

We feel that if they are granted access, the spouse card price should also be increased to somewhere between the 15 credit-hour fees and current card price. There shouldn’t be any whining on the side of spouses of students, the complaining should come from students who are paying their $263 every semester and having to share it with non-students.

Students who are using the facilities should be fighting for the right to use the overcrowded Fieldhouse without having to fight with someone who is only paying $31.50 for use of the equipment.