COPY EDITOR
CLAIRE MARREN

 “College students have every right to ask questions,” said Assistant Director of Campus Life Teah Terrance.  “Especially when it’s their money.”

For students who would like to know what they’re paying each year and where their money is going—every full-time undergraduate student is billed $80 per semester. This mandatory cost is called the Student Activities Fee and it was created by students for students.

 “The Student Activities Fee is the one fee that students have a say in,” said Director of Campus Life Tom Rodgers. He speaks of the most recent change, when students approved a referendum for the Student Government Association (SGA) funded shuttle service in the spring of 2005. At that time, the fee was $75 per semester but it increased by $5 when Fisher students approved the proposal.

Although the fee is determined by students it is overseen by the SGA Finance Committee, who is responsible for maintaining proper disbursement of the student activities fees to SGA related clubs and organizations. The Committee’s web site states, “Through its allocation decisions the Finance Committee seeks to promote a positive campus community that includes diverse and meaningful activities, programs and services; in a way that is consistent with the needs of students; so that an atmosphere exists that is conductive to learning while providing an opportunity to enhance the lives of students.” The College’s Board of Trustees are included in the decision process, as are Rodgers and Terrance, who oversee the committee by making sure that every monetary distribution is fair, consistent and beneficial to the students.

Finance Committee Chair Kelly Powers and Co-Chair Andrew Baran provided a more specific outline on how the student activities fee is fairly dispersed. The cost is disseminated by either a fixed amount or a percentage to certain clubs and organizations, and the Finance Committee and Executive Board vote on the amount to be given out. While Powers voices the vote of the Finance Committee, Baran is responsible for the day-to-day activities, programs and services that Fisher’s clubs execute. “Principally I review and approve requisition forms, and if there are any discrepancies I communicate with clubs to help rectify the situation,” Baran said.

After money has been distributed, the remaining amount is placed into an SGA reserve account. “Each club and organization has rollover account and is allowed to use that money at their discretion. They can use their rollover money and put it towards an event or project for the following year,” said Powers. “The student activities fee supports at least 100 programs each semester. In addition, it supports services for students, such as the shuttle and leadership programs,” she said. Such campus activities the fee goes toward are Student Activities Board (SAB) movies and guest speakers.

When asked if Fisher students have ever complained about the mandatory payment Baran replied, “To my knowledge there has been very little complaint about the student activities fee. What we pay is fairly low in comparison to other schools. Nazareth pays 100 dollars a semester, Rochester Institute of Technology pays 195 dollars a semester and the University of Rochester is at 225 per semester.”

Each spring every club is asked to propose its budget for the following academic year and the Finance Committee reviews and allocates an amount to each club and organization. Only those clubs that are affiliated with SGA have access to a budget. “If a club or organization doesn’t submit a budget they are given an allocation of $100,” Powers said.

Fisher’s Finance Committee has developed a policy for clubs and organizations when members fear their club’s budget is lacking. If they want to support an event that is outside their budget, they can apply for a “special case” and request more funds. Powers said special case meetings are held five times a semester. Attendees may present their concerns to the Finance Committee who will then discusses the requests and arrive at a decision. Baran said so far this semester there have been a total of 18 special cases. “I would estimate that there will be a total of 25-30 this semester,” he added.

“We have spent more money this year than in years past, I believe, but we have definitely been very efficient and effective with it. When I ask people to vote on whether or not to spend a certain amount, I ask them to consider whether or not it will benefit a large number of Fisher students.  Most of the time it has been ‘Yes’,” said SGA President Steve Moscaritolo. “I think the campus has seen that we are making an effort to put ourselves out there, for them.  Once the year is done, I’d like the balance of most of the accounts at their minimums, because it’s student money, and it should be used on student wants/needs.”