By Samuel Rubenfeld
The Student Government Association will be considering a measure that raises the student activity fee at its next senate meeting in two weeks, The Chronicle has learned.
The proposal, still in the works, would increase the amount charged on students' tuition bill in order for SGA to appropriate more money for student clubs.
"We want to help as many organizations as possible," said SGA President Peter DiSilvio. "When clubs are asking for $1.7 million per year, a little extra money from individuals will help."
The SGA created a task force to determine how much the increase should be by comparing its rate with schools in the area like SUNY Stony Brook, Lehigh, Fordham, NYU and Seton Hall.
"Many schools have increased their student activity fees in recent years, simply because there were more clubs to fund, similar to our case," said Kathryn Chlosta, a freshman finance major who is on the exploratory committee.
"Moving on it now is a high priority," said Kate Legnetti, SGA's comptroller who is co-writing the legislation with Fundraising Chairman Brian Marquis. If the SGA doesn't approve it this week, they cannot increase the funds until the 2010-2011 academic year because of the long process of approval.
In order for the SGA to increase its activity fee, the proposal must first pass the senate, creating a special referendum for students to vote on using their online portals. If the referendum is approved, the Board of Trustees consider the measure in January. Should the Trustees approve the measure, the increase will appear on students' tuition bills.
"The increased funds would only be appropriated to the SGA," Legnetti said. "With the increase in clubs and specifically the increase in the large-scale events clubs wish to put on, it only makes sense for the fee to increase."
In its senate meeting this week, the SGA heard from Laurie Harvey, director of student computing services, who delivered an opening statement and answered questions raised by The Chronicle's coverage of Design Your IT in its Nov. 6 issue.
"The most important thing she conveyed to us is that SCS cares about how the students feel about how the money is spent," DiSilvio said.