Union renovation may add fees in the future

UA President Peter Likins told ASUA senators Oct. 21 that students will be asked to support a fee next semester for Student Union renovations.

"The idea of Union 'yes,' fee 'no' just doesn't compute," Likins said in the Student Union Rincon Room. "We're trying to avoid the kind of bond issue that will have an impact on tuition."

University of Arizona students will have a vote in the first half of 1999, Likins said last month. They will vote on whether students enrolled when the new building opens will "pay 'X' amount a semester over 30 years," he said.

Likins, who doesn't expect students to pay until the $60-million project is completed, said support for a referendum is necessary to earning the Arizona Board of Regents' consent.

"We need the students' approval before we go to the regents because the regents won't approve (a renovation) until we have a way to pay for it," Likins said.

Last spring, students were asked to support a $40-per-semester renovation fee. Three-fourths of student voters defeated the referendum.

Likins told senators the future fee would be "a whole lot less than $40 a semester."

The proposal was met with mixed reactions from Associated Students officials.

"I would hope they explore other options first," said Ryan Rosensteel, ASUA administrative vice president. "In general, I'm opposed to student fees, other than what we already pay."

Sen. Maria Rodriguez said she is sure plans for another referendum will be well thought out. If the majority of students oppose a fee, she will too, she said.

"We advocate for the students," Rodriguez said. "That's what we're here for."

Sharon Kha, associate vice president of communications, said she has not heard that plans have been finalized.

"It (the referendum) would be after we exhausted every other source of revenue," Kha said. "Dr. Likins will go for a fee when he knows an exact amount."

If the referendum is not approved, students will get a less-elaborate Student Union, Kha said.

"The building will be smaller and there will be fewer student services available," she said. "I have never known a time when the regents changed tuition because one university had a building they wanted to build."

Wildcat reporter Anthony C. Braza contributed to this report.

Erin Mahoney can be reached via e-mail at Erin.Mahoney@wildcat.arizona.edu.