UVUSA to make big decision on student fee increase

Probably the most important decision that this year’s student council will make is whether or not to commit to funding a new student center

As the proposal stands right now, student fees will be increased $45 over the next five years and eventually we will bond with the state for some $40 million dollars for this new structure on campus. This financial commitment on the part of every student would remain in force (depending on the terms of the agreement) for the next 20-30 years, and eventually would come to about $90 per student, per semester. That’s quite a fee.

The proposed center is supposed to make students into Wolverines, and not just people who happen to be enrolled at UVU, by giving them a place to socialize, relax, and study in a space entirely owned and operated by them. Not too bad a thing. But not as great as you might think. We have a student center now, but some think it lacks the appropriate environment to facilitate true bonds among students. It has no bowling alley or rock wall….as the proposed new student center would.

How this student center will help a student struggling with math is difficult to see. How will having a place to play pool and bowl improve your understanding of Kant? Frankly, anything on campus that can add one more distraction the litany of distractions already keeping the average student from what matters most – learning – is not priority number one, especially at such a high price. The real priority should be to steadily improve the capacity of this institution to educate its students directly and not by way of hanging out at the SC.

$40 million for a place to call our own isn’t nearly enough bang for the buck, not at a university whose role is and always should be to make a quality education available to as many people as possible.

You can voice your opinion on this matter by contacting your student council representative. Visit http://www.uvu.edu/studentgovernment/academicsenate/contactus.html and let them know what you really think.

Student council holds open meetings in SC105 and will be discussing this issue Thursday at 1 p.m. For a more in-depth analysis, check UVU Review’s upcoming Feb. 15 issue.