Senators passed a resolution at last night's ASUA Senate meeting that stated ASUA has no opinion and no formal stance regarding a student activity fee.
The student activity fee, which is being discussed by the Collaboration Board, would require students to pay $30 per year to fund programs.
J.P. Benedict, ASUA president, told senators the resolution says ASUA is not a sponsor of the student activity fee.
Senator Jacob Reuben said senators should approve the resolution because ASUA should not have an opinion regarding the fee until all the information is given.
All 10 senators voted in favor of the resolution.
Melanie Rainer, ASUA executive vice president, said the resolution was needed so students are not misled into thinking ASUA is pushing for the fees.
She also said it is not the job of ASUA to support a fee. Rather, she said she wants student voices to be heard.
The senate has not formally discussed an activity fee and there is no general opinion regarding it, Rainer said.
Birnbaum said the resolution was exactly what she wanted to say because there have been misconceptions about the activity fee.
Greg Billings, University Activities Board president, said the resolution does help clear up the fact that not one organization is associated with the activity fee.
He said the fee idea comes from a whole group of students around school that are involved in the Collaboration Board.
The Collaboration Board includes representatives from ASUA, the University Activities Board, Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council and the Residence Housing Association.
The board is in the process of conducting research and collecting data to determine whether students would support an activity fee.
Billings also said that once results from the market surveys, which are sponsored by the Dean of Students Office, are collected, organizations would try to listen to the students. They may not necessarily take a stance, depending on what students say.
Nick Bajema, an ASUA senator who has attended collaboration meetings, said further action regarding the activity fee would be based on what the surveys say.
Results from the surveys and polls given to students will determine whether the Collaboration Board will create a referendum for the senate to approve.
Rainer said when the senate votes on the referendum, it will be looking at the data collected and how students responded to the activity fee idea.
Matt Harris, an ASUA senator who has also been attending board meetings, said he hopes people can be patient while waiting for the facts, and that the board has been meeting every week to discuss the activity fee.
The board still plans on having students vote on the fee during the ASUA March elections. Results from the student surveys and polls will be determined within the next few weeks.
Senators approved a $789 budget for Sen. Sara Birnbaum's mutual respect forum on Feb. 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Harvill building, Room 150.
The forum will increase awareness on issues affecting the UA community, including underage drinking, noise violations, drinking and driving, and inappropriate late-night behavior, Birnbaum said.
The forum will bring together students, administrators, representatives from the neighborhood, and the Tucson Police Department.
The meeting will work on creating an environment where all interested parties feel respected and informed, Birnbaum said.
The budget will be used on making fliers and putting out ads for the forum. Ads will run from Feb. 2 to Feb. 3.
Tracey Gold, from television's "Growing Pains," will be speaking about eating disorders at the Integrated Learning Center on Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Gold has managed to overcome her battle with anorexia nervosa and return to acting, said Shana Metzger, ASUA Speakers Board director.
The lecture will concentrate on her struggle to be thin and the fight she has had to endure to overcome the battle, she said.
The lecture is free and open to the general public.
Metzger told senators they should come to the lecture to show their support.