Student fees adding up to big money

With nearly $400 in student fees and more potential charges on the way, students are beginning to feel the heat of services they don't even necessarily use. Student fees totaled $380.56 for full-time undergraduate students this year on the Bloomington campus. Included in this payment is a mandatory activities fee, a student health fee, a transportation fee and a technology fee.\nIn addition to current fees, the IU Student Association is considering submitting proposals to the board of trustees which would call for an increase in the bus fee and the addition of a fee to support the student readership program. The athletic department has also discussed proposing a mandatory athletic fee which would make games like football free to students. Instead of buying tickets, students would sign up for games they wished to attend.\nIUSA President Casey Cox said the current bus plan costs about $30 for all students. Some students pay $128 for a year-long, on-campus bus pass, while the bus is free for off-campus students to ride to campus.\n"To alleviate this inequity, the fee would be raised about $15 a semester and transportation would be free on and off campus," Cox said.\nCox said if enacted, this proposal would alleviate the current inequity between on and off campus bus fees.\nIn addition to the possible $15 transportation fee increase, IUSA may propose the addition of a $2 student readership fee as well.\nThe readership program is currently being funded by USA Today and allows students to pick up The New York Times, USA Today and the Indianapolis Star for free at various locations on campus.\n"The current pilot is free and has received an amazing amount of support from students we have spoken with," Cox said. \nThe universal bus pass and readership fee would charge all students, though not all students would necessarily use these services. \nCox said there is always some inequity regarding frequency of use in University fees and programs.\n"Not everyone uses their needed allotment of paper in the computer labs, and some use home computers far more than others use University computers and the same will be true for additional programs," Cox said.\nSophomore Peri Bernsten said she thinks students already pay for a lot of things they don't necessarily use.\n"You have to pay a set health fee, maybe you don't get sick, but it's there if you need it," Bernstein said. "So many students buy books they don't even open."\nBernstein said she thinks the prices are reasonable for the services they provide. She said she thinks the universal bus pass and student readership program are worthwhile.\n"There are times at night I want to take a bus," Bernstein said. "It's a safe thing to have."\nCox said fees should be as low as possible for providing the best quality of service to the University. \n"The universal bus pass and readership programs have been identified as universally adaptable to all individuals," Cox said. "These programs contribute to the whole of campus safety, convenience and academic environment."\nUltimately, the board of trustees will make decisions about student fees and tuition for next year later this spring.\nStephen Backer, head of the board of trustees' finance and audit committee, said in the next month or so, the board will meet in an open session to discuss tuition and fees.\n"There are rumors of all kinds of fees all the time; not all of them come into fruition," Backer said.\nCox said University fees should be thoroughly questioned before they are enacted.\n"Any change in fees should be scrutinized and the proper questions need to be asked to make sure that the University is kept accountable for the actions they take," he said.\n-- Contact senior writer Alli Stolper at astolper@indiana.edu.