Despite opposition to the student activity fee from several campus groups and individuals, the Undergraduate Student Government voted 17-3 in favor of the resolution Wednesday.
Representatives from the campus Green Party and College Republicans spoke out about the fee, citing poor timing and economic factors as being its two major flaws.
“We just don’t see this is the right time to sponsor free entertainment when the whole budget is in trouble,” said Alex Dubinskiy, a graduate student in computer science and secretary of the Green Party.
Another student said she felt her voice was being ignored and she was not being effectively represented.
“Most of the speakers tonight were against it, yet they (USG) said all the students are for this,” said Kia Surlas-Combs, a second-year student in international studies and Japanese. “It’s obvious they weren’t listening, and they already had their minds made up,” she said.
Greek senator Bart Connolly, who was one of three senators who voted against the proposal, said free entertainment should not be a top priority because of the current economic state and said he felt charging students to fund more activities was not sensible.
“There’s a lot of events that aren’t very populated, and people don’t go to the things we have now,” he said.
Others raised concerns about fairly allocating funds to accommodate everyone’s needs.
“We don’t feel the money will be allocated democratically,” Dubinskiy said. “If the money was given more to student organizations, it would be more flexibly distributed rather than somebody from the top deciding if Eminem should come to Ohio State.”
The proposal allows for an independent body of elected and appointed representatives to handle the $1.6 million generated by the undergraduate portion of the $15 quarterly fee. A clause was placed in the proposal which would allow USG to review its effectiveness each year and would also allow for the possibility of terminating the fee if necessary.
However, with a tuition increase almost a guarantee because of budget cuts, students will be footing the cost whether the student activity fee is enacted or not. If passed by the OSU Board of Trustees, the $15 quarterly fee will be included in the 9 percent tuition increase. If it does not pass, then students will still pay the $45 per year in the form of tuition, said Mike Goodman, vice president of USG.
“The activity fee provides a visible return, and we want to give back to the students,” Goodman said.
Off-campus senator John Rensink voted in favor of the fee.
“I voted because I think the people I represent will benefit from it,” Rensink said. “I think it’s the best thing for the university and for the students, but I don’t think the students can see it right now.”
