After the success of UA Latenight, student leaders hope students will want to pay a $30 yearly programming fee to help fund more activities.
The Collaboration Board, which includes representatives from the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, the University Activities Board, Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council, Residence Housing Association and Arizona Student Media, wants to put the $30 yearly fee on the ASUA elections ballot in March.
The fee would help fund activities that keep students on campus, so that they don't go off campus to party, drink and bother the neighbors, said Sara Birnbaum, ASUA senator.
The fees would apply only to student activities put on by various departments and organizations. One such activity is UA Latenight.
UA Latenight, sponsored by the Collaboration Board, was a night of fun and prizes at Wilbur's Underground held Dec. 10 to give students an alternative to drinking and partying.
"I was blown away by UA Latenight's success. People who went enjoyed it and were unhappy to go at 2 a.m., when it ended," Birnbaum said.
But Birnbaum said that in order to continue the $3,000 event and other successful activities, the board must come up with money.
ASUA allotted $50,000 for entertainment in its 2003-2004 budget, allowing events like UA Latenight and Cat Fest.
Although it has looked for donations and sponsorships from the community and other departments at the UA, the board has been considering asking students to pay a $30 programming fee each year.
"We're not just relying on the students, but the whole community," Birnbaum said.
Melissa Vito, dean of students, said she started working closely with ASUA once she heard students from the Collaboration Board had voiced interest in a student fee.
Vito said she plans to release a market survey this month to figure out what will keep students from leaving campus to party at night.
Birnbaum said ensuring that students benefit from the fees is her biggest concern.
But J.P. Benedict, ASUA president, said he is in favor of the proposed fee only because it is refundable to some students who would not benefit from on-campus activities.
"Lots of students do different things. Some stay on campus, others go home, and they can't use the fee if they don't stay," he said.
Even though the fee would be refundable, some students are still opposed to the idea.
"I don't want to be charged and go through the hassle of a refund," said Shawna Moore, an elementary education junior.
Birnbaum said once students learn what programs would be supported by the fee, they would be happy to support it.
But even if students do vote in favor of the fee, it still has to wait for the Arizona Board of Regents' approval.
"I am not a fan of fees added onto tuition - they only add to the rising cost," said Chris Herstam, president of the Arizona Board of Regents.
Andrea Bailey, marketing sophomore, said she does not want to pay more money to the university.
"I pay enough tuition to cover those fees. More tuition money should go toward student activities," she said.
Maya Pri'Tal, family studies junior, said she thinks students should only have to pay a few dollars to fund activities.
"They don't need $30 from every student," she said. "Thirty dollars is ludicrous."
The Collaboration Board has been discussing the possibility of a program fee for a few years, but the discussion has never gone anywhere, Birnbaum said.
But now, with recent budget cuts and problems between students and neighbors, the fee has taken on a new importance, she said.