After a monthlong delay, the $15 student activity fee will be presented to the ASUA Senate tonight to determine whether a special election will be held for the measure.
The fee, which would bring big-name concerts and speakers to campus, was originally to appear on the general election ballot March 3 and 4, but was delayed after Associated Students of the University of Arizona leaders criticized its inadequate structure.
If approved by a student vote, the fee would require students to pay $15 to a Student Activity Fee Committee that would distribute 80 percent of the money to entertainment funding, 15 percent for general distribution and 5 percent for doubtful accounts, or refunds.
The refundable fee, charged at the beginning of every semester, could generate $1.25 million to $1.4 million.
ASUA Sen. Nick Bajema, who worked on the proposal, said the intent of the fee is to increase entertainment such as concerts and guest speakers on campus and to provide students with an alternative to drinking.
Although members of the Collaboration Board who revised the fee's structure are confident they have now minimized the loopholes, there is still doubt as to whether bands and speakers will come to the UA.
Alistair Chapman, ASUA president-elect, said getting famous speakers and popular bands to come to campus is "a pretty difficult process."
It requires an application and sending in a bid, he said. But there is no guarantee that a band will accept the bid.
"But with the appropriate amount of funds, students can expect a lot of big-name speakers and bands to come," Chapman said. "They are responsive to a big contract."
Greg Billings, University Activities Board president and member of the Collaboration Board, said in February that it would cost about $1.19 million to put on four concerts free to the public that were roughly the size of a John Mayer performance.
Although Billings said UAB currently has the structure in place to bring large names to campus, Bajema said bringing big acts to Tucson would still be difficult.
Any campus groups, including clubs, residence halls, colleges, Greek Life and administration, are eligible to apply for student activity fee funding and will be given funds if they follow the spirit of the mission statement, said Sen. Matt Harris, who worked on the proposal.
The proposal requires that "funds collected through the student activity fee be used in service to the greatest number of students and the widest breadth of interests."
The 15 percent reserved for general funding is to be used for implementing "entertainment and educational programs," according to the bylaws.
Bajema said he hopes the ASUA Appropriations Board will work closely with the SAFC to determine if programs would fall under ASUA funding or could be eligible for fee money.
But Nathan Bell, a member of the Collaboration Board, said the choice is up to the discretion of the committee, and that he "trusts the student leaders."
Jodi Hibbs, a psychology sophomore, said student leaders should have to adhere to clearer guidelines.
"Because it's so vague, you would think the money could go for something you might not use," said Victoria Rosas, a pre-nursing junior.
The SAFC, which would be in charge of the allocating of funds, would have representatives from the ASUA Senate, the Residence Hall Association, UAB, the Graduate and Professional Student Council, Greek Life, off-campus commuter students, the Multicultural Resource Center, the administration and three students from the campus population at large.
The positions for the three students, with a graduate student given preference for one spot, are open to anyone on campus, including students affiliated with organizations already represented on the committee.
The three at-large student positions ensure that no qualified applicant is excluded, Billings said.
Bajema said it would be good to see a student leader, perhaps a former or current member of ASUA, who has experience with concerts.
But Jani Radebaugh, GPSC president and a member of the Collaboration Board, said she would prefer to see the committee "evenly balanced" and to have three students not affiliated with other groups already represented fill the positions.
Bell, who drafted the fee's bylaws, said he doesn't know what qualifications are needed for the three student positions and that it is up to the SAFC to decide.
Another concern surrounding the fee is whether students will abuse the refund system by asking for their money back and still attending free campus events such as concerts and speeches.
Billings said there is no way to regulate the refund and that abuse is "still something to consider."
But fee drafters don't expect many students to get refunds.
"When you have events that are big enough, you have people who will stay or come to see them," Harris said.
The $15 fee was settled on after considering amounts as high as $30 and as low as $5.
Harris said $15 is a strong starting fee that could prove sufficient next year by attracting a few popular bands.
"If you start too low, you cannot satisfy the students' needs," he said.
Jacob Reuben, an ASUA senator, said he supports letting the students vote on whether they want an activity fee.
"We need to make sure (the money) is all going to the right places, where it needs to be going," he said. "We don't want to be taking the students' money."
If passed by the senate tonight, students can vote on the student activity fee in a special ballot Monday, Tuesday and April 7.