MSA supports fee increases
Published March 9, 2004
The Missouri Students Association Senate passed one resolution March 3 before they voted down President Brian Laoruang-roch's enrichment hour proposal.
The resolution suggested that any fee increase of more than 2 percent presented by the administration be put to the student body for a vote. It was written by Matthew Sokoloff, chairman of the Student Fee Review Committee, and co-sponsored by Senators Tara Brandenburger and Ashley Warren. There was little debate about the resolution.
Sokoloff said he drafted the resolution in response to an excellence fee, which some administrators are discussing. The excellence fee would be an addition to the tuition students pay. It would be collected into one fund from which all the departments and schools could withdraw money. Right now, many colleges, including the College of Education and the School of Journalism, charge varying amounts for the classes they offer. The fee would charge the same amount to every student, regardless of the college they're in.
This fee could increase tuition by as much as 10 percent on top of the normal tuition increases from the UM system Board of Curators.
"I like students having as much input as possible on their fees," Senate Speaker Damon Ferlazzo said, "but in the end I think the Board of Curators will have the final decision."
Sokoloff said he hopes that if the administration plans to raise students fees, they will plan the student referendum so the Board of Curators does not have to.
"My hope is that the administration will understand what we want," Sokoloff said.