It took three votes in five weeks for Associated Student Government senators to support raising the Student Activities Fee by $21 per year, but they needed just one attempt Wednesday to approve support of cable in dorms costing students $121.20 annually.
Last week’s vote on the SAF increase failed by one vote.
“I’m almost happy that it took that much reconsidering, just because it shows we’re really working for the students,” said Elder Hall Sen. Bryan Tolles, a Weinberg freshman.
Debate on the fee focused on whether students wanted another increase so soon after the Board of Trustees raised the fee in April 2000 from $22 to $33 per quarter. The resolution is a recommendation to the trustees, who will make the final decision.
“We don’t have a lot of money now to give to groups,” said 1835 Hinman Sen. Mike Blake, a Medill sophomore. “It comes down to a common sense issue. Give more money because groups need more money.”
But Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Sen. Jason Warren, who has strongly opposed the resolution, said taking three votes to pass the resolution shows Senate’s inefficiency.
“If it takes five weeks and every parliamentary trick in the book, this is an abuse of the system,” said Warren, a Speech sophomore. “It’s not the fault of the system, it’s the fault of the senators.”
Senators had a much easier time deciding to support dorm cable access through personal computers. Administrators said they want to get student approval for the cable plan before finalizing arrangements for next year.
“Financial aid rates, room and board rate, are waiting on this,” Student Services Vice President Courtney Brunsfeld said. “It cannot be postponed.”
The Undergraduate Budget Priorities Committee, which includes four ASG members, asked administrators for cable earlier this month. Over time, students will pay the entire cost of the system’s implementation.
“Next year when you’re paying this, you’re not going to realize it’s there,” said Brunsfeld, a Weinberg junior. “Don’t deny it to the 2,000 freshmen who have to live in the dorms.”
But the unconventional technology concerned some senators.
“In my mind this is another half-job on behalf of the administration to satiate the students,” said Chapin Hall Sen. Ben Cherry, a Weinberg sophomore. “Let’s not pay for something totally new that has not been tested before. I’m definitely for cable, but it seems like a half-baked solution to me.”
The Residential College Board and the Residence Hall Association have a poll linked to HereAndNow to gauge student opinion on the fee and desired channels. The survey will close Friday.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, senators denied Outing Club’s appeal of ASG’s Executive Committee recommendation to derecognize the group. Executive Vice President Srikanth Reddy said the B-status group failed to turn in liability waivers for its last seven events.
“The group knew about this because last year they did turn in the waivers,” said Reddy, a McCormick junior. “They’ve violated university policy repeatedly.”
Some senators said miscommunication caused the violations and could be remedied without derecognizing the group. But others said derecognizing the group was necessary because of the seriousness of the offense.
“Derecognizing them tonight is the Executive Committee’s way of letting groups know that it’s not OK to violate policy,” said Niteskool Sen. Christy Sommers, Outing Club’s adviser on the committee.
Reddy also announced that Exigent Theater Co. is being investigated for financial misconduct for possibly using their funds to support an Arts Alliance production.
Despite nine new bills on the agenda, senators voted to adjourn the meeting at 11 p.m. without addressing new business or what cable stations would be offered.
