Students have chance to respond to activity fee

Recently, the idea of a student activity fee has surfaced at the University of Arizona. There was even an article, "ASUA asks students for activity fee," written to further explicate this idea. Many schools within the PAC-10, as well as many of our peer institutions, have a student activity fee, which raises the question of whether or not a student activity fee is appropriate for our student body. [Read article]

It's that time once again. It's that pesky and obligatory custom that comes every four years and assures us of the continuing function of the little experiment we like to call American democracy. Yes, that's right: It's yet another presidential election year.

Now I know it seems like we just had the last election. Remember that whole fiasco in Florida with all the dimpled chads, the recounts and the images of the elderly residents of Palm Beach County endlessly staring through the lens of a magnifying class at the countless numbers of butterfly ballots? Of course, there's been plenty to take our minds off politics in recent years. We've had wars, terror attacks, recalls, tuition hikes and reality television to keep us thoroughly occupied in the time since one of the most heavily contested presidential elections of all time. [Read article]

ASUA Sen. Sara Birnbaum has proposed a $30 "activity fee" from every UA student to fund on-campus events. Even $3 is ridiculous.

There are nearly 40,000 students enrolled at the UA. A $30 fee would mean nearly $1.2 million to fund these events, which, says Birnbaum, would be used to keep students on campus, safe from the supposed dangers of off-campus parties.

There are two major flaws with the plan. The first and most obvious is the money it would solicit. Birnbaum said the cost of putting on UA Latenight, an on-campus event that took place on Dec. 10, was $3,000. [Read article]

Question: What do you think of Parking and Transportation Services' new policy of fining drivers who tailgate out of the garages $250?

"I think it's a good policy, but the fine is too harsh. There should be a warning and a $50 fine."

"It just sounds typical of what they would do. It seems that our school will do anything to make a buck." [Read article]