Student media to handle KAMP Radio refund requests

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Mark Woodhams

University of Arizona's Bursar's Office and student media officials, confused about which office was responsible for crediting the refundable fee, clarified the problem Monday, said Mark Woodhams, director of student media. The Arizona Board of Regents decided in February that the fee would be remitted.

"The bursar was under the impression the student media would handle it, and the student media was under the impression the bursar would handle it," Woodhams said. "We talked this (Monday) morning, and I said the student media would handle it."

UA students voted March 1997 to pay the fee each semester for five years to help KAMP survive financially and possibly expand its broadcasting functions. A tight budget in past years has kept the station from getting a Federal Communication Commission license.

Jean Johnson, UA Associate Controller, said yesterday that university officials had clarified the issues, adding that the KAMP fee repayment would be handled in the same manner as other programs involving fees, such as those by UA Parking and Transportation Services.

"The other department credits the account and the Bursar's Office issues the refund," Johnson said. "We have done it this way with all departments since we had the SIS (Student Information System)."

Johnson said KAMP's administrators have access to student accounts and can credit the $1 upon request. She said those with a credit on their account can go to the Bursar's Office for the cash.

"They (other departments) decide if the refund is appropriate and we (the Bursar's Office) handle the money," Johnson said.

The Board of Regents' February minutes state: "The University proposes to begin collecting this fee in May 1998, with refunds available through a written request to the Bursar's Office." Regent Rudy Campbell said having a department other than the Bursar's Office facilitate the process was OK with the board.

"They are probably doing that to be more convenient and less cumbersome to the students," Campbell said. "The change is irrelevant."

Neither Johnson or Woodhams knew of a student requesting the $1 refund.

Woodhams said any student interested in a refund should put the request in writing and submit it to the student media office.

Anthony C. Braza can be reached via e-mail at Anthony.C.Braza@wildcat.arizona.edu.