According to material passed out at the Feb. 13 College Senate meeting, the fees will rise gradually.

For the athletics fee:

• The first year's increase will be 40 percent of the total increase: $38.
• The second year's increase will be another 30 percent: $29.
• The third year will also be a 30 percent increase: $29.

Currently, the athletics fee is set at $154 a year. After the first year of implementation, the fee will be $192. The second year, the fee will be $221, and the third year, the fee will be $250.

For the technology fee:

• The first year's increase will be 50 percent of the total increase: $40.
• The second year's increase will be another 25 percent: $20.
• The third year will also be a 25 percent increase: $20.

Currently, the technology fee is set at $240 a year. After the first year of implementation, the fee will be $280. The second year, the fee will be $300, and the third year, the fee will be $320.

College Senate and the Student Welfare Committee

The College Senate voted on the increases at its Feb. 13 meeting after reviewing a proposal from the Student Welfare Committee. Amy Viola, the chair of the Student Welfare Committee, said that although she did not want the fees increased at all, she believes the three-year implementation was a good compromise.

“We definitely need more and better technology on campus, but I don't necessarily agree that it should come from the students' pockets,” she said.

The reason the Student Welfare Committee made a recommendation to increase the fees was because if it had made no recommendation, the College Senate would have proposed huge fee increase s, Viola said.

Raising the fees in small amounts protects the students from huge increases for the next three years, Viola said.

“If we had said no to a fee increase altogether, we would have gotten overrun,” Viola said. “By doing the three-year plan, it allowed for the faculty, staff and administration to see that we want what's best for the students and for the school.”

Student reaction

Some students on campus are still not happy about the increases. Joe Matecki, a senior, said he didn't think the college did an adequate job of telling students about the increases before they were determined .

“They don't keep us advised of everything,” he said. “I don't know if they do it purposely, but sometimes I think they try to keep us in the dark so there's not as much resistance.”

Matecki said that it might be hard for students to afford the increases, because financial aid was dropping while tuition was on the rise.

“I think the fees themselves are necessary, but why do they need to be raised,” he asked.

Robert Peplowski, a freshman, said that as a commuter, it is hard for him to attend athletic games. He said that he works out at home and does not use computers on campus.

“I don't use any of the fields and I've never even been to the gym,” he said.

President's response

Howard said the raises were to keep the college competitive and the increases would benefit every student in some way.

“All of us use the sports arena,” she said. “Those facilities are used for academics as well, so we have to maintain the facility.”

Howard said that even if a student feels he or she does not use the facilities, they should want to support their fellow students, or at least attend the sports games as spectators. Howard also said that athletics keep alumni involved and contributing to the college.

“It goes beyond just the participating athlete,” she said.

Howard said the technology fee increase would go to many aspects of the college, not just to pay for computers in the library. The increase will provide something for every department.

Email: carlenepeterson5@yahoo.com