Regents have final say on proposed activity fee

Even if students vote in favor of the activity fee that appears on a special elections ballot in three days, it needs the approval of the Arizona Board of Regents.

And the regents say they're not sure they support the refundable $30 per year activity fee because it seems too rushed.

"I think when a student vote takes place, there (should) be enough time to have a thorough discussion," said Chris Herstam, president of the board. "This is all happening very quickly."

Regent Gary Stuart said he is "generally not in favor of student fees" because they do not generate financial aid, which he called a vital part of a university.

The Associated Students of the University of Arizona Senate passed the activity fee referendum on Wednesday and will place the proposed fee on a special elections ballot Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Members of the Collaboration Board who initially drafted the fee proposal said the fee would be used to pay for activities such as concerts, speakers and educational programs.

J.P. Benedict, student body president, said the early election was necessary in order for the results to be on the board's April 29 agenda.

Judy Garza, secretary of the board of regents, said the university would have to get her the proposal by April 14 in order to prepare the meeting's agenda.

But if something is important and needs more time, she said the university does not have to make the information available until 24 hours before the meeting.

If there is a time crunch, Garza said regents forgo the standard reviews and procedures.

Regent Ernest Calder—n said that in any election, there needs to be "adequate debate," and "a little more time would be prudent" for the student activity fee.

Regents also said they would be concerned about the fee if there were a low voter turnout. Regent Fred Boice said a 15 to 20 percent voter turnout is generally considered a "good number," but he still believes that's not high enough.

"I would be concerned about any turnout number that was less than 10 percent," Herstam said.

ASUA Sen. Matt Harris, who worked on the fee proposal, said he doesn't know how many voters to expect but hopes for 1,500 to 2,000, which is about 5 percent of the UA's 37,000-student population.

Last year, 3,559 students voted to renew the $1 KAMP Radio fee, with 76.8 percent of students voting in favor of the measure.

The KAMP fee originated in 1997 and came up for approval again last year.

ASUA Sen. Sara Birnbaum said regardless of the number of students who vote, regents should support the fee if it is passed in the election.

The regents have a responsibility to listen to the wishes of the students, she said.

Melanie Rainer, ASUA executive vice president, said even if only 300 students vote, the regents should consider the fact that they care enough to vote.

Erron Winsor, a mining engineering freshman, said voter turnout shouldn't matter.

"If a couple people say something, it might apply to more people," he said.

Stuart said the board has a "constitutional obligation" to consider the merits of the fee and then independently make an educated decision.

"Students should not make the assumption that the student body, in a limited election, will decide," he said.

But Benedict said if the fee passes, he is "confident" the regents will vote in favor of it.

Herstam said before regents decide on the student fee, he will "demand research" from the students who are proposing it.

Stuart said he is skeptical about the limited time available for marketing the fee.

"I don't know if they can get information out in that time period," he said.

Regents earlier this semester voiced discontent with proposed student fees at ASU that would have supported student union and recreation center construction. ASU students rejected those fees in a referendum, though, and the fee never went before the regents.

That proposal, however, was much larger than the UA plan, calling for gradual implementation of a fee that would have maxed out at $335 per year.

- Jeff Sklar contributed to this report.