Undergraduate Student Government president Eddie Pauline is working to draw up a proposal that would establish a mandatory student activity fee at Ohio State.

“This fee would probably amount to an additional $15 per quarter and would be paid by all students,” Pauline said.

The extra fee would generate about $3 million a year in increased resources. It would increase extra-curricular activities funding without replacing any of the university funds allocated through the Council on Student Affairs.

OSU does not have a student activity fee, however many other colleges and universities have passed similar proposals in recent years.

Penn State has had a $25 activity fee since 1996. Georgetown University implemented a $25 fee in the fall of 2002. The University of Pittsburgh recently increased their student activity fee to $70 per semester. Many other schools are now in the process of enacting student activities fees.

According to universities’ Web sites, most of the universities that have enacted such a fee keep the money separate from other funds and allocate it through a board which is half elected and half university appointed.

Cuts in state funding for higher education have resulted in many schools turning to student activities fees to help fund extra curricular activities. If passed, the money generated by this proposal would be used to boost funding for both student organizations and university events.

Student organizations include clubs, fraternities, sororities, student societies and student governments.

Organizations that register with the Ohio Union can request up to $100 per year for operating expenses, $500 for travel expenses, and $2000 for activities, said Matt Couch, the assistant director of the student union. These activities can range from concerts and guest lecturers to cultural celebrations.

These requests are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Often those organizations applying for money in the winter and spring find there isn’t enough money left to fulfill their requests.

The university allocates $245,000 annually for student activities. After deducting money for the student governments and club sports, there is about $130,000 to be split among student organizations.

About 75 percent of this money goes towards operating expenses, 5 percent goes towards travel expenses and the remaining 20 percent goes towards activity funds.

Organizations can request support for an event through the Coca-Cola marketing funds. According to the Student Affairs Web site, this support could range from free beverages and advertising for smaller events to financial support for larger events. These resources can be obtained by filing a request with Nick Kissel, the campus Coca-Cola representative.

University-run programs such as the Buckeye Late Night Program would also receive funding for events if this proposal were to be passed. Although these programs already receive university funds, many insist they could do allot more if they only had more resources.

“I think that students have an expectation when they come to a big university like Ohio State that we will have big name performers on a regular basis,” Couch said. “While we are able to organize large events during welcome week and several other times throughout the year, we can’t bring in big performers on a regular basis with the funding we currently have.”

So far feedback has been mixed. Some students have expressed concerns with the fee. According to a few of the student e-mails sent to USG in response to the proposal, there is concern the fee would cast an undue burden on their already strained budgets.

In other e-mails, many students have contributed positive feedback and suggestions as to how the money could be utilized to improve campus life here.

Pauline said he is still drawing up the proposal which details how the money would be allocated and who would distribute it.

“The priority here is to make sure that Joe Student, who isn’t involved in sports and other extra- curricular activities, will see some benefit from this money,” Pauline said.

USG will soon be sending out e-mail surveys to get feedback from students on the proposed fee. In addition students can e-mail their opinions on this proposal to [email protected].