College students decide to raise fee

It's official.

Missouri Western State College students will pay more than triplethe current rate for student programming.

They voted last week to increase the Student GovernmentAssociation fee from $15 to $50 per semester beginning with theirfall tuition bills. The results of the two-day Internet vote were 298for the increase and 250 against it. The fee hadn't been increasedsince 1982.

"I was very optimistic going into this because we had a great caseto plead," said SGA president Ryan Sevcik. "We had a good shot fromthe start because we gave students a glimpse of what we could do withmore money."

Mr. Sevcik credited the win to the College Readership Program,which provided free national, regional and local papers on a trialbasis this semester. Participation in the program costs $50,000 ayear.

"We tried to build the increase on the back of that program, and Ithink that pushed us over the edge," he said. "It was a tangibleresult. If you say 'yes,' this is what you'll get for your money."

The organization also hopes to lure popular entertainers to campuswith the additional money. The current fee generates about $140,000annually. If enrollment remains steady at about 5,000 students, thenew fee could mean an annual $500,000 budget for the organizationthat supports the residence hall council, campus activities board,student senate and SGA.

"You can go to any other school, and they're bringing in well-known bands and comedians," said SGA member John Fabsits. "I couldtell you the people Western's had here, but you wouldn't have heardof them. There hasn't been enough money to have anything big lately."

The vote also enables Western to become a member of the StudentAssociation of Missouri for $1 per student per semester. SAM is ahigher education lobbying unit working toward giving student regentsa vote and pushing for equitable funding.